OVGU—The Language Centre: UNIcert®

UNIcert®

Source: UNIcert®. (n.d.) The UNIcert® Foreign Language Certificate. https://www.unicert-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/unicert_en_2017.pdf

The UNIcert® Foreign Language Certificate

The UNIcert® Foreign Language Certificate is a uniformally regulated certification of foreign language competency in and beyond Germany, which is relevant for future graduates. Students can acquire the UNIcert® certificate at universities and higher education institutions as an additional qualification, alongside their studies.

For over 25 years, the AKS, the German association of language centres, language teaching institutes and institutes of foreign languages, has been the official holder of the UNIcert® seal of quality. This seal of quality is based on the framework agreement of leading German higher education institutions, and is scientifically supported by the UNIcert® executive committee.

The UNIcert® training and certification system certifies higher education foreign language skills for the levels UNIcert® Basis and UNIcert® I-IV. Since the five UNIcert® levels correspond to the A2-C2 levels of the Common European Framework of Languages, it is possible to make a qualified assessment of students’ language competencies at higher education institutions.

The strength of UNIcert® is in its flexibility, in particular the flexibility it offers to higher education institutions with regards to meeting the needs of certain target groups. The fact that taking part in a UNIcert® programme is completely voluntary allows the students to consciously choose to do so to acquire an additional qualification.

Within the framework of the guidelines of the UNIcert® association for all fields of training and testing, as well as of a common understanding as members of the association, the universities administer their own certification programmes, design their own training content and examinations in accordance with their own needs. The examinations take place at the respective university, and the certificates are issued by the respective university.

Appeal

The appeal of UNIcert® is particularly highlighted in the following points:

The comprehensibility and comparability internationally: The multilingual UNIcert® certificate provides information on the language skills, and can be used internationally due to the correspondence to the CEFR.
The high level of language training: This is achieved through the interlocking of the language learning process with the test contents and competencies, as well as rapid progression.
The embedding of a curriculum relevant to students in task-based lessons: Language acquisition and application of both professional and key competencies in the foreign language.
Relevance for universities and the labour market: This is achieved through the technical and competence orientated course content.

Quality Assurance

The quality of the language training and the certificate is guaranteed by the members of the UNIcert® executive committee, and by other various methods:

regular reaccreditation of institutions
compliance with the minimal standards of the policy documents (framework, Code of Practice)
support of the institutions from the UNIcert® executive committee
networking between members of the UNIcert® association

the commitment of all members to collaborate on the UNIcert® concept

Why UNIcert®?

Advantages of UNIcert® for the institutions:

Detailed information is provided on the competence areas in the multilingual certificate.
It is comparable with other foreign language certificates in line with the CEFR.
You have students, who are able to meet the requirements of a degree course in an international context.

Advantages of UNIcert® for students:

It offers preparation for studying in the target language.
It offers preparation for working with the foreign language in international and multilingual contexts. - It enables the use of the foreign language in intercultural and socio-cultural contexts.
Detailed information is provided on the competence areas in the multilingual certificate.