What is the impact of language skills on an expat?
The role of Dutch language skills comes up a lot in research on integration and participation. A target group that is often overlooked here is the expatriate population. Yet we see a growing population of expats in Belgium. An expat is a person, born and raised in another country, who is in Belgium for an often limited period of time to work in an international company.
Previous research also shows that expats often occupy key positions in international companies. It is therefore essential for these companies to pay attention to their expats. This by looking for factors that ... of expats positively.
- well-being
- participation
- the retention
In this project, we investigate whether Dutch language knowledge is one of those important factors. Because international companies sometimes encourage their expats to increase their Dutch language knowledge by taking formal language classes or other (in)formal language methods.
Impact measurement of Dutch language lessons
We are also investigating whether we can measure the specific impact of a language intervention such as Dutch language lessons. Indeed, organisations are more often asked about the usefulness, impact or added value of offered interventions for their employees and for the organisation itself.
Can we express the usefulness, impact or added value of such an intervention via a financial return? And in what way do we then best map this potential (financial) return? These questions form the second goal of this project.
This project is co-financed with the Nederlandse Taalunie.
Would you like to know more about this project? Feel free to contact the researchers and keep an eye on this page for research updates.
Meet the team
Work with us?
Request customised research
We are happy to assist you with your research enquiries.
