On March 13th, Columbia Global Centers | Tunis, in partnership with the British Tunisian Society, hosted a webinar titled "Research in English in a Francophone Milieu”.
Mr. Robert Ness, former Director of British Council Tunisia, Hong Kong, and Colombia, moderated the talk by Mr. Youssef Cherif, Director of Columbia Global Centers in Tunis. The discussion aims to explore the challenges researchers face when conducting research in English within predominantly Francophone environments.
During the webinar, Mr. Cherif highlighted the specific obstacles encountered by anglophone researchers in Tunisia, as well as in the broader Maghreb and West Africa, where French and Arabic are the primary languages in educational settings. He stressed the significance of Columbia's presence in Tunisia in diversifying academic approaches and encouraging the use of English in scholarly pursuits.
"Tunisia, along with the Maghreb and West Africa, predominantly operates within a Francophone educational framework influenced by French models," noted Mr. Cherif. "Through our Global Center in Tunisia, Columbia seeks to contribute to the diversification of academic practices in the region and encourage the use of English in research."
Discussions on language in academic research are ongoing, and initiatives such as this webinar serve to foster inclusive academic environments. By bridging linguistic gaps and advocating for English as one of many mediums for scholarly exploration, the Center aims to positively impact the academic landscape in the region, promoting collaboration and innovation across language barriers.
