Spanish Crown applauds UQ

UQ Professor Alfredo Martínez Expósito has received recognition from the Spanish Crown for his work in promoting Spanish language and culture in Australia.

Professor Martínez Expósito, Head of the School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies, recently accepted the Cross of the Order of Civil Merit at the residence of the Spanish Ambassador in Canberra.

“It means an extraordinary recognition of the work that I and my colleagues have carried out over many years promoting the study of Spanish – the language not only of Spain but of 400 million people in more than 20 countries,” Professor Martínez Expósito said.

“The University of Queensland is leading the current trend to revive language education in the State.

“UQ’s language initiatives such as the new Diploma in Languages, the Bonus Rank Scheme, and the Brisbane Universities Language Hub will further strengthen the School’s position.”

Professor Martínez Expósito said UQ’s School of Languages and Comparative Cultural Studies would also play a key role in the establishment of new Language and Culture Institutes at the St Lucia Campus to build links with China, Russia and Spain.

“Adults who were not given the opportunity to learn languages at school often find it difficult to master a new language later on,” he said.

“At University level, the ability to read and communicate in the major international languages should be considered as a priority by both students and staff.”

UQ's new Bonus Rank Scheme allows school-leavers to improve their entry rank by successfully studying a Language other than English and/or advanced maths at Year 12.

Through the DEEWR-funded Brisbane Universities Language Hub (www.bulh.edu.au or www.slccs.uq.edu.au) all UQ, Griffith and QUT students can now learn Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Spanish.

Media: Professor Martinez-Exposito (07 3365 6336 or a.martinez@uq.edu.au) or Eliza Plant at UQ Communications (07 3365 2619)