29 September 2026
Italy’s Ghetto Classrooms
A few days ago, the Prime Minister announced a strict 30% cap on the number of foreign students in classrooms; mandatory Italian language courses for the parents of foreign students experiencing academic difficulties; and a ban on the Burqa and Niqab in any national school. The announcement has inflamed public and political debate in Italy. The measures illustrate the inadequacy of Italian citizenship law in reflecting social reality. Moreover, they raise the suspicion that, rather than implementing policies for better integration in schools, Meloni is concerned with the upcoming elections. Continue reading >>
0 
16 October 2025
Accent on the Language of Instruction
Language of instruction in European higher education is increasingly contested. Once tied mainly to minority language protection, language policies now shape debates on internationalisation and the spread of English-language teaching. Yet their implications for academic freedom as a legal right remain understudied. This post aims to explore what interpretative guidance on language of instruction can be drawn from other legal systems and how it could inform future interpretations of Article 13 CFR’s linguistic dimension. Continue reading >>
0
16 October 2025
Academic Freedom of Language
The freedom to teach, conduct research, and study is inseparable from language, which shapes how knowledge is produced, shared, and contested. A legal framework regulating academic language therefore directly affects the scope of academic freedom. Yet, while Article 13 of the EU Charter guarantees that freedom, it makes no mention of linguistic rights. This raises a crucial question: does academic freedom also include the right to choose the language in which it is exercised? The answer, this piece argues, is yes – but its scope depends on whether we look at the institutional or individual dimension of academic freedom. Continue reading >>
0
10 April 2017