Sixth REAL Symposium on Language Economics and Policy, 4–5 June 2026 in Potsdam

Universität Potsdam, in cooperation with REAL (Research group “Economics, policy analysis, and language”), Ulster University, Andrássy-Universität Budapest, and IPSA RC50 - The politics of languages, organises the "Sixth REAL Symposium on Language Economics and Policy" on 4–5 June 2026.
The REAL symposia aim to discuss all aspects of language economics and language policy; and corresponding contributions are welcome. Especially welcome are papers that address the role of language skills within the context of increasing mobility, for instance in migration, in the labor market, and in education. Contributions to the symposium can cover theoretical and empirical research, or the practical implications in terms of language policy and impact. The symposium is interdisciplinary, and contributions are accepted from economics, political science, sociology, sociolinguistics, law, and related field.

Keynote speakers

Mette Foged: “Effects of language training and barriers to language learning in migration contexts”

Lektor (Associate Professor), Økonomisk Institut, Københavns Universitet

Seniorforsker (Senior Researcher), ROCKWOOL Fonden (ROCKWOOL Foundation)

Fellow, Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration – CReAM, University College London – UCL

Research Fellow, Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit – IZA (Institute of Labor Economics)

Mette Foged is an economist, using quantitative methods to study a broad range of topics related to the labor market and welfare state, with a particular focus on international migration. Her published work covers core topics in the Economics of migration such as migration decisions, labor market effects of immigration and the effectiveness of integration policies. Language training has been a core topic in Mette's research agenda with publications evaluating the effects on participants, the intergenerational effects and the effectiveness relative to other policies for the labor market integration of refugees. She is currently conducting survey experiments to understand the barriers to language learning among refugees. She is also currently working on causal effects of Denmark's Ghetto policies.

Carsten Quell: ”Reconciling competing objectives in public policy: Language policy in a diverse Canada”

Carsten Quell is a linguist and public policy expert whose work focuses on the design, implementation, and evaluation of language policy. His experience includes working as Director of Policy and Research at the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages from 2008 to 2015. He currently leads the Official Languages Centre of Excellence at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, where he supports close to 200 federal institutions in implementing Canada's official languages policy. Carsten's research and policy interests include language rights, public service bilingualism, and the role of language in social cohesion. He has contributed to efforts in language policy implementation, internationally, including with partners in Ireland, Kosovo, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, and Wales. Earlier in his career, he taught at the Lycée Français de Toronto and managed international communications for an e-commerce company.

Local Arrangement Committee

• Eva Markowsky (chair), Universität Potsdam, REAL
• NN, Universität Potsdam

Program Committee

• Bengt-Arne Wickström (chair), Andrássy-Universität, Budapest, REAL
• Bartosz Hordecki (Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu)
• Michele Gazzola, Ulster University, Belfast, REAL
• Eva Markowsky, Universität Potsdam, REAL

Scientific Advisory Committee

• Ainoa Aparicio Fenoll, ESOMAS – Università degli Studi di Torino, Collegio Carlo Alberto, REAL
• Till Burckhardt, Université de Genève, REAL
• Ramon Caminal, Institut d'Anàlisi Econòmica – IAE-CSIC, Barcelona, REAL
• Ida Pinho, Kungliga Tekniska högskolan (Royal Institute of Technology) Stockholm, REAL
• François Vaillancourt, Université de Montréal, REAL