1. Mission

The Centre for Research and Innovation in Linguistic Education (CIEL) is an integral part of “1 Decembrie 1918” University of Alba Iulia. It does not have separate legal personality and operates under the authority of the University Senate.

The Centre carries out fundamental and applied research in the field of linguistic education, with a particular focus on enhancing the capacity to generate new scientific knowledge and practical applications. Its activities aim to raise citizens’ awareness of the importance of positively embracing cultural, religious and linguistic differences, while developing their ability to interact and establish relationships with others. The Centre also seeks to provide a research-based foundation for, and support the development of, local and national language policies at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, thereby contributing to the development of a free, interactive, pluralistic and participatory democratic European society.

The main research areas pursued by the Centre for Research and Innovation in Linguistic Education (CIEL) are:

I. Plurilingualism and Interdisciplinarity

1. Applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, semantics and cognitive linguistics;
2. Transculturality and interdisciplinarity;
3. Interlinguistic and intralinguistic transfer.

II. Linguistic Education and New Technologies

1. Computer-assisted teaching and learning of modern languages;
2. Development of linguistic and socio-pragmatic competences in the mother tongue and modern languages;
3. Language assessment and certification;
4. Initial and continuing professional development of modern-language teachers.

2. Objectives

In the short and medium term, the Centre pursues the following objectives:

• to train early-career researchers and support established academic researchers in conducting high-quality scientific research;
• to consolidate thematic research areas for fundamental and applied research projects;
• to identify and access funding opportunities for research projects;
• to initiate fundamental and applied research projects;
• to develop research for multinational companies aimed at enhancing employees’ linguistic, communicative, intercultural and socio-pragmatic competences;
• to develop the infrastructure, resources and information base required for research;
• to disseminate and promote research findings through various forms of public communication, scientific presentations, articles and co-authored publications;
• to ensure a high level of international visibility through the development of a website, a discussion forum and a virtual laboratory for modern-language learning;
• to collaborate with doctoral schools in Romania and abroad in order to facilitate early-career researchers’ access to high-quality academic networks;
• to establish and strengthen scientific links with universities, research institutions, cultural institutes and professional associations abroad, particularly with institutions recognised for their work in modern-language teaching, learning and certification;
• to integrate the activities of the Centre for Research and Innovation in Linguistic Education (CIEL) into European networks of scientific research and excellence;
• to involve teachers from pre-university education in research projects, as well as collaborators from other professional fields who can contribute to the activities of CIEL;
• to develop CIEL into a language testing and assessment centre authorised at European level;
• to provide consultancy in linguistic and communication-related matters, organise modern-language courses, and organise and administer language proficiency examinations leading to standardised certification aligned with the Council of Europe’s standards and provisions concerning the teaching, learning and certification of modern languages;
• to carry out extracurricular activities addressing current issues in linguistic and intercultural education, with the active involvement of students.