On 25 September 2025, the UniNet University Network, under the auspices of the Network to Promote Linguistic Diversity (NPLD), hosted its first online academic conference, entitled Contemporary Issues Facing Regional and Minority Languages in Europe. The event was co-organised by Partium Christian University (Oradea, Romania) and brought together researchers from Aberystwyth University, Bangor University, the University of Strathclyde, Ramon Llull University, Soziolinguistika Klusterra, Stockholm University, and Partium Christian University itself, among others.
The conference took place via Zoom on the afternoon of 25 September. Following an opening and briefing by Dr Levente Székedi (Partium Christian University), participants joined three parallel thematic sessions: Language and Technology, Language and Education, and Language Policies, chaired respectively by Dr Levente Székedi, Dr Iuliana Borbély, and Dr Gábor Flóra, all of Partium Christian University. Thirteen presentations were delivered in total, each followed by an open discussion. The conference closed with a summary and closing remarks by Dr Gábor Flóra.
The Language and Technology session opened with a presentation by Dr Elin Royles, Prof Rhys Jones, and Dr Huw Lewis (Aberystwyth University) on methods for assessing linguistic vitality, including the potential of GIS mapping tools. Dr Ingeborg Birnie (University of Strathclyde) presented policy recommendations for minoritised languages in the emerging Human-Machine Era, arguing for instruments that ensure equitable digital participation. Beca Owen (Bangor University) examined the dual phenomena of “digital ascent” and “digital dormancy” for minority languages in the age of AI, drawing on case studies from Wales, Fryslân, and the Basque Country. Dr Artur Lakatos and Dr Mihai Avornicului (Partium Christian University and Babeș-Bolyai University) explored the opportunities of generative AI and text-to-speech synthesis for minority language development. The session closed with a presentation by Dr Csanád Albert-Lőrincz (Partium Christian University) on detecting and managing AI-generated texts in academic writing.
The Language and Education session featured Dr Siân Lloyd-Williams (Aberystwyth University) presenting a participatory action research project exploring pupils’ relationship with the Welsh language. Dr Rhian Hodges (Bangor University) examined the gap between macro-level Welsh language policy and the lived experiences of new Welsh speakers. Dr Iuliana Borbely (Partium Christian University) discussed how Hungarian-speaking trilingual students at PCU acquire and use Generation Alpha English slang. William Andrew Bromberg (Ramon Llull University) presented a case study on plurilingual teacher wellbeing in a Catalan primary school.
The Language Policies session included Lasse Vuorsola (Stockholm University) analysing municipal descriptions of Finnish mother tongue instruction in Sweden and their often unintentional barriers to minority rights. Dr Imanol Larrea-Mendizabal (Soziolinguistika Klusterra) presented research on the sociolinguistic integration of Latin American immigrants in the Basque Country. Dr Cynog Prys, Dr Elen Bonner, and Dr Rhian Hodges (Bangor University) introduced a recruitment toolkit for employers aimed at supporting Welsh-speaking communities. Dr Huw Lewis (Aberystwyth University) rounded off the session with a content analysis of Welsh economic development strategies and their integration — or lack thereof — of language maintenance considerations.
The conference marked a significant milestone for UniNet as its first dedicated academic event, demonstrating the network’s growing capacity to connect researchers working on minority and regional languages across Europe.