Himachal: French, Spanish courses in colleges from this session

The courses will initially cover French, German, Spanish and Japanese. The Higher Education Department is currently in the process of identifying an agency to conduct the programmes.

Harish Sharma, Director, Higher Education, said the language courses would be introduced across academic streams, including medical, technical and general education institutions.

“The objective is to improve the employability of our youth in foreign countries. There is a growing demand for nursing professionals in several European nations due to their ageing populations. Knowledge of the local language, along with professional qualifications, can significantly improve job prospects for nursing and paramedical students,” Sharma said.

He added that the courses would also be offered in technical institutions such as Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnic colleges.

“Skilled workers such as plumbers and carpenters are in demand in many countries. Familiarity with the local language will help them adapt more easily and improve their employment prospects,” he said.

According to Sharma, proficiency in foreign languages can also open up opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sectors, as well as business process outsourcing (BPO) services within India.

The department plans to keep the courses open not only to enrolled students but also to former students of institutions where the programmes are introduced.

“Any ex-student of an institution offering these courses will be eligible to join,” Sharma said. The courses will be rolled out once the government finalises the agency responsible for conducting them.