Annual Report 2023 Entire Book - Flipbook - Page 171
Goal 4 - Moving Forward
The publication of the ‘Languages Connect Interim Review Report and Implementation Plan to 2026’ is an
opportunity for PPLI to reengage with the enterprise agencies to coordinate messaging around the importance
of foreign languages to client companies. PPLI will also need to work with these agencies to access companies
in the enterprise sector for the purpose of research, in order to determine the value of language skills and
language learning for employers.
A more cross-sectoral approach to implementation should be adopted. The importance of language learning
in the development of future skills required by the workforce such as intercultural competence, empathy, and
adaptability, so important in the context of global citizenship, need to be acknowledged in the context of higher
education and enterprise. Ireland needs global citizens who are multilingual with strong intercultural
competence who can navigate diverse cultural contexts and this message needs to be embedded beyond
school. While importing language skills from abroad has been used to plug skills shortages this does little to
enhance the linguistic or intercultural skills of the wider national workforce.
PPLI will continue to promote Partnerships with Employers Resource, World of Work Resource, and Working with
Languages Activity Pack in Schools and we will seek to increase opportunities for post-primary students to
engage in work experience where they can use languages. We will also work to increase opportunities for the
enterprise sector to raise awareness of the value of languages for jobs e.g. through video content, school visits
and seminars.
- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2023 -
171
