Global yearnings hampered by language protection
17. februar 2012, 12:42 – opdateret 17. februar 2012, 12:54
Highly skilled immigrant and international students are often faced with an insurmountable language barrier when they have to deal with the authorities in this country - virtually all public sector publications are in Danish only.
According to a business sector survey, up to 90 per cent of all public sector communication, including income tax returns, daycare and schools information, and even the initial invitation to a Danish language course, is in Danish., and in some local authorities it's even 100 per cent.
Tine Horwitz, head of the Consortium for Global Talent, an organisation that helps Denmark’s 18 biggest companies attract skilled workers from abroad, called it 'unacceptable' "It's ridiculous to expect foreigners to be able to understand Danish from day one, " she said. "As well as making life extremely difficult it sends the wrong signal to foreign students, workers, and even tourists."
Minister of Education Morten Østergaard said there has to be change. "Protecting our own little language isn't compatible with the strategy that Denmark has to become a more open country, so I would urge all ministers to take a very close look at where things under their jurisdiction can be improved," he said.
At the same time, the latest QS World University rankings place Copenhagen no higher than 39th out of the world’s 98 best university cities to live in. The Danish capital scores well in quality of life, but lags behind in living expenses and ratio of international students compared to Danes.
Lars Bernhard Jørgensen, CEO of tourist and business organisation Wonderful Copenhagen, agreed that the city’s expensive lifestyle is one reason for its average placing but also cited Danes' notorious reputation of being cold and aloof. He said:
“If we really want to be an attractive place to study and retain foreign talent then we need to focus on being more accommodating towards international students."
305,000 foreign students have come to Denmark over the past five years.
