New students at The University of the West Indies (UWI) will have to take up a foreign language and become “conversation competent” by the time they complete their degrees.The UWI said on Thursday that it has “finally evolved as a multilingual institution” with a Foreign Language Policy that will require incoming undergraduates at its five regional campuses to participate in foreign language training at a general level.“Going forward, the expectation is that all UWI graduates will be at least conversation competent in a language other than English,” Pro Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Studies, Professor Justin Robinson said.The policy is being implemented on a phased, faculty-by-faculty and campus-by-campus basis, beginning in the 2022/2023 academic year. Only students entering the university with prior competence will be exempt from the requirement.
