The document discusses the UNIcert® language certification system in Germany. It provides an overview of UNIcert's history and structure, outlines its standards-based curriculum and certification process, and notes its growth over time in accredited institutions and certificates awarded. The document also considers potential future adjustments, such as allowing for modular coursebooks and skills-based testing, to maintain UNIcert's relevance in a changing educational environment.
Beyond Accepted Standards: Past, Present and Future of the German UniCert Language Teaching System by Dr Peter Tischer
1. Beyond Accepted Standards
Past, Present, and Future of the
German UNIcert®
Language Teaching System
8 January 2016 Peter Tischer, Saarbrücken 1
2. UNIwhat?
What’s the idea behind UNIcert?
What does UNIcert look like?
What (and who) is UNIcert good for?
Whither UNIcert?
8 January 2016 Peter Tischer, Saarbrücken 2
3. One for all
Basic idea of UNIcert®
> 1 curriculum with academic focus
> 1 certificate
> 1 set of standards
> ... for all language centers
& all languages
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4. All for one?
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> 16 states
> 16 X educational autonomy
> 16 ministries of education
> 16 High school exams
> 16 higher education laws
5. Not an (only) exam.
UNIcert® is a framework and a network
> a comprehensive training, examination and
certification system of foreign languages for general
and specific purposes, specifically designed for
higher education institutions.
> a widely recognized qualification for students.
> a means to develop and monitor language
programs.
> a service offer provided by AKS
> a QMS
> a „MOT test“ of language teaching and in HE
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6. Structure
AKS e.V. is the official agency and owner of UNICert®
UNIcert® Committee (20 members)
> oversees development
> organizes activities
> conducts audits and awards accreditations
Accredited Institutions
> organize and conduct language training along UNIcert® guidelines
> design and grade exams
> issue the certificates
2 Offices (Dresden & Göttingen)
> permanent contact
> administrative work
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7. Accreditation Requirements
Formal rules
> Organizational structure
> Regular staff for each accredited language
> Maximum of 25 students per course
> Checked attendance
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8. The UNIcert®-Framework
Unicert® Course Program Requirements
> 4 defined levels (I–IV)
> 120—180 contact hours / level (minimum)
> Placement tests
> Graded course exams
> Comprehensive final exams for Levels III and IV
> All 4 skills equally taught and tested
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9. Current Accreditation Cycle
Reaccreditation for 5 years
Submission of a comprehensive report
Reaccreditation for 5 years
On site Audit
Reaccreditation for 5 years
Submission of a comprehensive report
Reaccreditation for 5 years
On site Audit
Initial Accreditation for 3 years
Based on submitted Dossier
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10. 10 Years After
UNIcert was launched in 1992
> Mr. UNIcert: Prof. Bernd Voss, TU Dresden
> CEFR avant la lettre
By the year 2002
> About 40 accredited Institutions
> Over 9.000 reported awarded certificates
> Publication of the 1st UNIcert®-Handbook (1998)
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11. What institutions get out of it
> A framework plus academic freedom
> peer quality control
> peer support
> institutional support
> self-reflection
> high quality teaching
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12. What students get out of it
> high quality teaching
> homogenous groups
> comparable level and program structures across
languages
> inter-university mobility
> a broad range of (vocational) programs
> detailed university certificates
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15. How students obtain a certificate
Obtention of detailed certificate with course record
Cumulative assessment based on course results or
Final examination in all 4 skills
Regular course attendance (120–180hrs)
Workload 360–540hrs
Placement
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16. Activities and Adjustments
The UNIcert® Committee continuously
revises and reforms the System
> Alignment with CEFR I/B1 – IV/C2
> New Level UNIcert Basis A2
> Research Publications
> Sample Tests
> PR Material and Newsletter
> Workshops and Trainings
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17. Recent developments
> Cooperation with German Academic Exchange
Service (DAAD)
> Spinoff FOBIcert (Teacher Training Certificate)
> International expansion
> Angers (F), Kufstein (A), Tiflis (GA)
> UNIcert LUCE Franchise in Slovakia
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21. Success Story
In short
> 105 000 exams at more than 50 university language
centers.
> Around 6 000 examinees per year
> Offered in over 25 Languages
> Curriculae focussed on higher education
> Setting standards yet flexible
> UNIcert is great. The ideal blueprint for all language
center exam systems.
End of story.
Or is it?
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22. Audits
Elaborate procedure
> 2 auditors, 1 assistant
> 2 days
> interviews and reviews
Measures
> Standardized report forms
> New UNIcert coordinating position
> Annual fee 100€ 500€
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23. A question for the future
Can we still expect 4 skills at an equal level
with
> more students,
> less study time,
> changing learning habits,
> and more different languages required??
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24. Connect four
UNIcert requires equal proficiency in all 4 skills.
We‘re in good company:
> Cambridge (English)
> Goethe (German)
> DELF/DALF (French)
> DELE (Spanish)
> CELI/CILS/PLIDA (Italian)
> TORFL (Russian)
> HSK (Chinese)
> TELC (several languages, at community colleges)
> School exams (several languages)
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25. Are skills really developed at the
same pace?
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He has...
> B2 speaking skills
> C1 Listening skills
> NO Reading and
Writing skills
Does this mean...
> insufficient communicative Competencies?
> no solid basis for further language learning?
> No carreer prospects?
26. And you? How’s your Portugese?
Não fala Português? Lede!:
„Os exames produzidos pelo
CAPLE constituem o Sistema
de Avaliação e Certificação de
Português Língua Estrangeira
reconhecido pelo Ministério dos
Negócios Estrangeiros, através
do Instituto Camões, e pelo
Ministério da Educação.“
> Can’t use this professionally?
> Can’t build on this?
> Uncertifiable knowledge?
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27. Learner centered curriculae
and profiles
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A German psychologist
> will read complex English articles
regularly
> almost never speaks English,
only sometimes as a passive
conference visitor
> needs reading skills B2/C1 + x
& oral skills A2/B1
A British businessman
> Has to establish personal
relationships with people of
various origins.
> leaves contracts – which are in
English anyway – to his lawyers
> needs oral skills A2 (but in which
dialect?), cultural skills B2, no
written skills
32. Moving on
Unicert® is
> a well established system,
> a success,
> and work in progress.
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33. Thank you for your attention!
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UNIcert® website
www.unicert-online.org
Peter Tischer, contact details
p.tischer@szsb.uni-saarland.de
