What makes border regions so special? Border regions are special areas from different points of view, and the “border character” can be quite different. Borders may be visible (e.g. national borders) or invisible (e.g. territories that today belong to one state, but belonged to different states or other political unities during past periods). Some borders are quite stable, others arise from recent developments.

The experts involved in the project “Enhancing language education in cross-border vocational education” have identified special conditions and requirements that are characteristic for the border regions involved in the project. Their reflections concern various levels: institutional teaching, individual learning, language policies, permeability of structures, not to forget attitudes and perceptions of learners and trainers…

The closing of the borders between many countries during the first wave of the Covid 19-pandemic has underlined the importance of overcoming borders. Languages and language teaching and learning prove to be more important than ever in this process. Europe is particularly created at the interfaces of border regions. Thus, the potential of border regions lies in the fact that they can be conceived as model regions for a Europe that is growing together.

Dr. Claudia Polzin-Haumann (project coordinator)

• For more information about the ECML project “Enhancing language education in cross-border vocational education” (2020-2023), please visit the dedicated website: www.ecml.at/crossbordervocationaleducation (available in English and French)