商界敦促政府提高对亚洲国家的学术重视

一炷香

澳大利亚工业团体指出，现有的经济危机应该让澳洲认识到亚洲国家对于澳洲本地经济的驱动能力，相应地，更好地认识亚洲，了解亚洲语言、文化和习俗很有利于澳洲的长期繁荣。

目前在澳洲的大学中，仅3%的学生选修了亚洲语言类课程；6%的12年级学生选择亚洲语言课程。

该团体提醒联邦和州政府以及学校要将亚洲语言课程纳入澳洲教育大纲中，以保证不被时代淘汰。


New alliance to push Asian languages and study


http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/new-alliance-to-push-asian-languages-and-study-20090504-asny.html
Miki Perkins
May 5, 2009

A POWERFUL alliance of business groups, unions and corporations is calling for a greater educational focus on Asia.

"Once we come out of this economic downturn Australia will look to Asia as a core driver of our own recovery," Australian Industry Group head Heather Ridout said. "Understanding Asia, knowing the languages, cultures and traditions and teaching our children about our near neighbours is essential for future prosperity."

The Business Alliance for Asia Literacy is a coalition of 60 associations and corporations

Only 3 per cent of students are studying an Asian language at university. Just 12 per cent of year 12 students study a foreign language, and only half of those choose an Asian language.

The alliance has called on schools and state and federal governments to ensure that education in Asian knowledge and languages is core to the Australian curriculum, and it launches its message at the Asia Education Foundation national summit in Melbourne today.

"If we don't focus on Asia literacy, both language and cultural awareness, we're going to get left behind," says Kathe Kirby, executive director of Asialink and the Asia Education Foundation.

In the past decade, the number of languages offered at universities dropped from 66 to 29, according to a recent Group of Eight universities report.

Earlier this year Education Minister Julia Gillard launched an "Asia literacy" strategy to double the numbers studying an Asian language by 2015, with funding of $15.6 million a year over four years. But Melbourne University Asian Law Centre director Professor Tim Lindsey said the money, while welcome, was insufficient.

[ 本帖最后由 一炷香 于 2009-5-5 07:23 编辑 ]

一炷香

一楼的新闻正好和前几天v版发的关于维多利亚大学取消中文学习课程相呼应：墨尔本维多利亚大学取消中文课程引发争议

大家还可以同时参考我之前发的这个：澳洲政府斥资六千万以求提高12年级学生对中文等亚洲语言的掌握能力