Collaborative Research Aims to Shape Inclusive Language Policies in a Changing Europe

Horizon Europe Funds MultiLX Project to Study Youth Language Practices Across Europe

The University of Warwick, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025, is one of the UK’s top universities, with over 28,000 students from 147 countries and ranked 9th in the UK by The Guardian University Guide. Known for its research excellence, innovation, and strong business links, 92% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ in the Research Excellence Framework. It was also named Midlands University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times.

The university will lead a research project on language policy across Europe, in collaboration with nine universities from nine countries. Professor Angela Creese will head the project, Strategies to Strengthen European Linguistic Capital in a Globalised World (MultiLX), funded by Horizon Europe. Moreover, the project will develop language policies that respond to changes in Europe’s linguistic landscape due to increased mobility and advances in AI and digital communication. It will study linguistic diversity across Europe and offer recommendations for policymakers.

Professor Creese noted that the research will include ethnographic observations in cities like Barcelona, Berlin, Lucerne, Oslo, Santiago de Compostela, and Turin, focusing on young people's everyday language practices and digital communication. The findings will inform recommendations for a more inclusive language policy in Europe. The research project, which is scheduled to run from 1st January 2025 to 31st December 2027, will provide policymakers with comprehensive evidence regarding the communicative practices and language ideologies of young people across Europe.

MultiLX, led by Professor Creese, is a collaboration between several universities, including the University of Warwick (Adrian Blackledge and Angela Creese), Universitetet i Oslo (Pia Lane), Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Maite Puigdevall Serralvo and Joan Pujolar Cos), Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg (Katharina Brizic), Università degli Studi di Torino (Gerardo Mazzaferro), University of Glasgow (Bernadette O'Rourke), Jyväskylän yliopisto (Sari Pietikäinen), University of Limerick (Helen Kelly-Holmes), and Pädagogische Hochschule Luzern (Edina Krompák).

Horizon Europe, the EU's main funding programme for research and innovation, has EUR 93.5 billion for 2021-2027 and focuses on tackling climate change, supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and boosting EU competitiveness and growth. The program will boost collaboration, support EU policies, and tackle global challenges. It focuses on creating and sharing knowledge, generating jobs, engaging talent, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing industrial competitiveness within a stronger European Research Area. Legal entities from EU member states and associated countries are eligible to participate.

The University of Warwick's MultiLX project, funded by Horizon Europe, will provide valuable insights into Europe’s evolving linguistic landscape. Through collaboration with international universities, the project aims to develop inclusive language policies that address current challenges and support future growth.

Editor's Note:

The University of Warwick, a leader in research and innovation, is spearheading an ambitious project to address Europe’s changing language policies. MultiLX, in collaboration with universities across Europe, aims to explore the linguistic practices of young people and offer actionable recommendations for more inclusive language policies. 

Skoobuzz hopes that this project will contribute significantly to shaping the future of European language policy.