About this website

The primary objectives of the Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages of the Italian Culture Department have always been to encourage the study of German as a second language and promote awareness of South Tyrolean culture, alongside fostering other languages and cultures, including Italian for non-native speakers.

During nearly 50 years of activity, numerous projects have been developed to bring people closer to languages, offering a wide range of initiatives tailored to different age groups. Current offerings include advice and information on language courses and study-abroad programs for adults and youth,  civic-linguistic training courses to help migrants integrate into the community, and various other initiatives, such as language certifications in French.

The Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages also coordinates two important facilities: the Multilingual Centre in Bolzano and the Multimedia Language Centre in Merano. These are libraries and centers dedicated to autonomous language learning and language teaching, where visitors can borrow books and multimedia resources in numerous languages free of charge.

The centers provide personalized language consulting services and host a variety of activities aimed at bringing the public closer to languages and cultures. Examples include "Cinema and Languages," in collaboration with the “Centro Studi A. Palladio", conversation clubs in various languages, and a range of events and meetings.

Lastly, the Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages manages the granting of financial benefits to associations and cooperatives for promoting German as a second language and other foreign languages.

Language learning also means lifelong learning. For this reason, the Office for Life-Long-Learning and Languages is responsible for language promotion and language advice. Below you will find the mission statement of the Office for Lifelong Learning and Languages.

What do we want to achieve? What is our goal? (Our vision):

As the Office for Life-Long-Learning and Languages we want to create a culture of lifelong and continuing learning and education for all citizens, regardless of age, gender, origin, language, religion, profession, education or skills. Continuing education should help to strengthen people in their skills and promote coexistence and community, multilingualism, diversity, mutual respect and equal opportunities.

We want:

• promote the participation of self-determined citizens in society and counteract social exclusion,
• make a contribution to finding meaning and strengthening people's basic trust in their own abilities,
• promote the development of a society in which everyone takes responsibility for shaping society and shows civil courage,
• enable everyone to acquire the basic skills they need to participate in the information and knowledge society and maintain their employability.

Further education must be accessible on a decentralized basis.

What do we do? What is our mission? (Our mission):

The Office for Life- Long Learning and Languages is the steering, development and awareness-raising body for general continuing education and language promotion and creates the framework conditions for the realization of a culture of continuing education for all through

• targeted, differentiated and transparent support,
• a citizen-friendly information and communication system,
• targeted training for people involved in continuing education and lifelong learning,
• supporting decentralized and voluntary educational activities,
• maintaining and improving the quality and system of general continuing education,
• networking private and public players in continuing education,
• initiatives that close gaps in provision and ensure development.

The Office is the province's monitoring, information and advice center for all life-long training and education in South Tyrol and is therefore the first point of contact for citizens and other partners.

How do we work? (Our values):

• Our work is guided by goals and concepts.
• We realize our goals in cooperation with private and public partners.
• We act according to the principle of subsidiarity. We trust in the initiative of our partners and measure ourselves by what we make possible.
• We take the concerns of learners and partners seriously.
• We are competent, fair and reliable in both internal and external relationships
• We are motivated, identify with our tasks and take responsibility.
• We work close to the people.

Your contact for languages

Kathrin Fischer, Tel. 0471 413394, kathrin.fischer@provinz.bz.it