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11 Jul 2006 14:54:52
Free language course set to help businesses and graduates
An award-winning language programme is set to improve the way businesses in the region trade across the world and help students improve their international business communication.
The Global Communication Skills for Micro-businesses course, which offers 60 hours tuition in bite-sized chunks, is being offered for free to 60 micro-businesses – that’s companies with 10 employees or less - and at a subsidised rate to 60 University of Luton students and 16 larger companies.
The business language training is available in French, German, Italian, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese, subject to demand, and the course runs for 20 weeks starting in October 2006 and running until June 2007.
This type of course, run by the University’s Language and Culture for Business Centre (LCB), has already proved a positive influence in business for previous participants, as Beverley Carmichael, Internal Sales Manager for Distribution, NIC Eurotech Ltd, explains: "I really enjoyed being taught French. I put it all to use every day. I now feel confident enough to hold a conversation with the customers I have in France and it seems that they are able to understand me too. So that's good!"
Nick Gardner, Project Recruiter for the University of Luton’s Global Communication Skills for Micro-Businesses (GCM) project, said: “The course is specifically targeted at micro-businesses to help them communicate in new markets abroad, or if they need to learn a language to improve their relationships with their existing customers.
“It will also provide University of Luton students with an opportunity to improve their CV by adding a business language to their skills and competencies.
“The course requires attendance for three hours a week, from 3pm to 6pm on a weekday, and offers email and phone support. State-of-the-art multimedia language laboratories are also available to use.
“The training is broken down into chunks so employees and students can learn about a new topic each time, from greetings and making phone calls and appointments, to welcoming visitors and placing orders.”
Rita Mascia, the GCM project manager, added: “Our team has a successful track record of supporting small companies to address international business opportunities. Over the last seven years they have trained 4,000 employees from 2,500 companies.”
But the course is not just about learning a language, said Rita. It’s about a much broader range of opportunities. She said: “It brings employers and students together in a learning environment. Employers are able to access the University’s facilities such as the £8 million Learning Resource Centre and the language laboratories.
“This is an innovative format never tried before to our knowledge, and the reason why we were awarded the funding.”
Those who complete the course will receive the University’s internationally recognised Certificate in International Business Communication.
The GCM project is an initiative of the University of Luton
and is delivered in partnership with Anglia
Ruskin University.
All the courses are partly funded or subsidised by the Higher Education European Social Funding (HEESF) and are open to companies across the region.
To find out more about the Global Communication Skills for Micro-businesses at the University of Luton, call 0800 328 5334 or visit www.globalskills.org.uk.
Latest news» 2006» Jul» Parlez vous the right business language?
