Sonipat : The OP Jindal Global University (JGU) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Spain in the presence of His Excellency Jose Maria Ridao Dominguez, Ambassador, Embassy of Spain in India, and Alfonso Perez-Hernandez Egart, First Secretary, Embassy of Spain.
The agreement under the auspices of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the Spanish Ministry of External Affairs (MAEC) will especially benefit the Jindal School of Languages and Literature (JSLL), which shall host a native Spanish language lecturer to teach Spanish language, culture and literature. This long-term academic engagement of a native Spanish speaker (lector or lectora) with specialised training in teaching Spanish as a foreign language (ELE) shall benefit students of JSLL as they gain a richer and more complete experience of Hispanidad (Hispanicity). JGU has the distinction of being the only private university in India and one of a select group of 12 universities in India and Sri Lanka partnering with the government of Spain for Spanish language teaching.
Students are currently being admitted to the B.A. (Hons.) Spanish programme for 2022-2025. These students will work with the Spanish lector/lectora and other JSLL faculty on language skills such as pronunciation and improve their communicative and socio-pragmatic competencies.
The Founding Vice Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University, Professor (Dr) C Raj Kumar welcomed the development and said, "The MOU demonstrates the commitment of JGU and JSLL to advancing the study of Hispanic literatures and cultures in India. JSLL is proud to join the burgeoning field of Hispanic studies in India. The number of Spanish speakers in the world today exceeds 500 million. Students in JSLL will be able to make the most of the wide-ranging teaching expertise of Indian and foreign faculty members possessing the highest level of language training and proficiency."
Professor (Dr) Denys Leighton, Dean, Jindal School of Languages and Literature, JGU remarked on the academic significance of the programme: "We are thankful to the Spanish government and are excited about having a native speaker of Spanish trained in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. JGU is currently the only Indian private higher education institution to be part of this programme of Spain's Agency for International Development Cooperation and one of about ten participating institutions in India and Sri Lanka. Students of the B.A. (Hons.) Spanish programme will receive excellent instruction by Indian and international Hispanists at JGU and will benefit from a rich learning environment. We will also work to ensure that students of the programme have a meaningful Study Abroad experience in a Spanish-speaking country as part of their course of study at JGU. This will be an added value for our students."