By Lea Laursen Pasgaard, AAU Communication and Public Affairs. Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs

Just under every fourth employee at Aalborg University has non-Danish nationality. Among the academic staff, this is more than one in three. Communication is obligated to take this into account.

- As an international university, AAU has a responsibility to ensure an inclusive working environment where everyone has access to the same information and feels part of the community. This applies no matter who you are or where you come from.

These are the words of AAU's rector, Per Michael Johansen, who, along with the other members of the Executive Management, decided to introduce parallel language use at AAU. This means that the Danish and English languages must be used side by side. Going forward, whether you should choose one language or the other for your email or meeting will depend on what is most appropriate in the situation.

Language barriers to inclusion

The decision comes, in part, after an inclusion survey in autumn 2022 showed that a number of international staff members did not feel included at the university. According to the study, language barriers in particular challenged inclusion. And to such an extent that one in five international academic staff expressed that they did not want to stay at AAU.

Parallel language use will be part of new, common language principles for how we communicate with each other at AAU – in which language and when. The Executive Management now wants staff input on this.

The Rector's Office has therefore set up two working groups: 'parallel language workplace' and 'parallel language teaching and study environment', but is searching for participants to take part in an external advisory group.

This reference group will ensure organizational involvement and must consist of a broad representation of stakeholders, including national and international staff, academic staff, technical and administrative staff, and students. If you are interested in participating in the reference group, please write to rektorsekretariatet@adm.aau.dk.