Parliament will hold its final vote on the amendment to the higher education law, one important element of which is the abolition of the language examination required for graduation, in the week starting 21 November, according to the Parliament’s agenda on its website.
The government’s intention to drop the language exam requirement was already mentioned by János Csák, Minister of Culture and Innovation in the summer.
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Speaking in last week’s parliamentary debate on the amendment of the Higher Education Act, László György, State Secretary for Innovation, Higher Education, said that the bill “addresses a long-standing problem” by settling language examination requirements.
He highlighted that under the new rules, higher education institutions will be able to decide on the acquisition and assessment of foreign language skills appropriate to the qualification. He stressed that there is no doubt that foreign language skills are necessary for a university graduate, but the government’s position is that the “mechanical attachment” of a degree to the intermediate language examination has not lived up to expectations.
According to the explanatory memorandum to the bill, “the language examination as an administrative requirement does not in itself provide sufficient foreign language skills to enable graduates to meet the requirements of the labour market, and it is therefore appropriate that higher education institutions – which analyse and study labour market trends – should have the competence to decide on the acquisition and measurement of foreign language skills appropriate to the qualification”.
Under the amended law, the language examination requirement for the start of doctoral studies will be dropped and replaced by “language proficiency in accordance with the doctorate regulations”.
You can also read our articles on language learning and language exams below:
It is not compulsory everywhere, but don’t try to get away with it: learn languages!
