Walsall EBP - Partnership News (Spring 2005)

As part of the Black Country Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Pathfinder project Walsall Education Business Partnership is working to identify and recruit companies across the Black Country who use MFL in their everyday business dealings.

The intention is then to link company personnel with schools so they can offer support for the development of MFL in a variety of ways. It is hoped that this will help to address the decline in the number of students studying MFL at a time when more and more companies are recognising the importance of foreign language skills to their export prospects.

One example is seen in the above photograph where MFL students from Barr Beacon Language College spent time at the Campanile Hotel in Birmingham looking at the use of MFL in the workplace.

"It's of great benefit if business can see what MFL talents the next generation hold, or if students can be given a window to the business world outside to see some more relevance to their studies. Walsall EBP enables all of those things. When I was first contacted by Walsall EBP, I thought I was taking time out to do a school a favour - I didn't realise that I'd be doing myself one too!" Steve Swinden, Export Sales Manager, Linvic Engineering commenting on his recent involvement with MFL support to schools.