KOZHIKODE: Calicut University is planning to give a boost to its focus on foreign languages by introducing learning courses in German, Russian and one more foreign language which is yet to be decided. There is a Russian department in the university which already offers language courses.
While course on German will start with the help of ‘Goethe Zentrum,’ the German cultural centre in Thiruvananthapuram. The university has also agreed in principle to co-operate with Maldives to encourage research and study in Dhivehi language during a high–level Maldives delegation visit to the varsity on Friday.
The department of Russian and centre for comparitative literature is already running a part time one–year certificate course on Russian language and for the first time, it also has introduced a two-months summer vacation course recently. “Learning Russian is providing a vast opportunity for people in many fields including tourism and BPOs.
“Notification will be issued soon fora one–year course which will be starting in June. Anyone with a plus two qualification can apply for it,” said head of the department Dr. Nagendra Shreeniwas. The university is also in talks with Goethe Zentrum for starting German course soon. The decision to start German course received a mileage after the German consul general Jorn Rohde’s visit to the varsity in March this year.
The faculty for the course will be provided by the Goethe Zentrum and students will be provided with international certification. The university is also planning to conduct a seminar in order to promote the research in Dhivehi and its connection with Dravidian languages in association with the Dhivehi Language Academy.
Vice-chancellor Dr. K. Mohammed Basheer held talks talks with DLA president Ashraf Ali and other members which also included former Maldives president Ibrahim Nazir’s wife Nazeema Muhammed. “Dhivehi has close relation with Malayalam and other Dravidian languages. The seminar will explore those relations,” said Dr. Basheer. “The university is also welcoming Male students to conduct their higher studies here,” he added.
