New Perspectives in Science Education

This report aims to present the results of a survey on the attitudes towards the need to increase the English foreign language competence of the academic staff of the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, Sofia, Bulgaria. This survey is a part of a larger project, which is pointed at exploring the need to improve the English foreign language competence of the academic staff of the aforementioned university measured by the attitudes of both university students and their lecturers of non-English taught subjects. The outcomes of the survey clearly show that the academic staff is strongly inclined to strengthen their English language skills, because they are perceived as definitely insufficient for their day-to-day academic endeavors and further professional development. The results of the present study could open up space for future university-based initiatives and academic discussions on finding the best possible solutions how to develop the English foreign language competences of the academic staff in order for them to successfully participate in the process of internationalization and the international scientific field of knowledge relying confidently and solely on their increased English foreign language improvements.   

Keywords: English, foreign, language competence, survey, academic staff 

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