CESSMIR member Laura Schildt defended her PhD on 3 September. Her PhD is about the language tests that immigrants must take in many European countries to immigrate or stay permanently. There has been a significant rise in European governments using language tests for migration processes and this practice has come to Flanders’ integration policy. This thesis focused on two questions: Why are language tests used for migration? How are policies made? The research employed a mixed-methods, interdisciplinary approach aimed at European language testers and Flemish policymakers.
Key contributions include:
- Empirical evidence demonstrating that migration language policies are often shaped by government officials with limited understanding of language proficiency levels and little discussion with language experts. Time frames that are too short to prepare and pilot new tests can result in tests designed for other purposes (such as university admission) being used for immigration which can have a significant impact on specific immigrant groups.
- Insights on the impact of European language testers on migration language policies underscoring their essential role in promoting the appropriate and fair use of language tests.
- An overview of how Flemish language testing policy was made tracing the importance of a single elected official and a report on low migration integration in the workforce. The absence of language teachers and testers in the initial decision-making resulted in a lengthy and at times contentious process to put the policy into practice.
- An in-depth exploration of the political agenda behind the use of language tests in Flanders which challenges previous research by emphasizing the importance of bureaucratic and economic factors.
This dissertation concludes by underscoring the essential role of European language testers to promote the appropriate use of language tests in migration language policies. It suggests that the training and education of language testers prepare them for working in policy environments and translating language assessment principles for policymakers. It also emphasises the importance of using evidence-based research to develop policy solutions and exploring language testing alternatives based on immigrants’ backgrounds and needs.
Want to know more? Contact laura.schildt@ugent.be