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Multilingual Trends in Cypriot Education: Shifting Dynamics in Secondary and Vocational Studies

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 17, 2025

Overview of Foreign Language Learning in Cyprus

New Eurostat data underscores significant disparities in foreign language learning across educational levels in Cyprus. At the lower-secondary level, an impressive 79.8% of students study two or more foreign languages—well above the EU average of 59.5%. However, this figure reflects a decline of 11.8 percentage points since 2013, signaling a worrisome downward trend in early multilingual proficiency.

Divergent Trends in Upper-Secondary Education

In upper-secondary general education, only 33.2% of Cypriot students engaged in studying multiple languages in 2023, a stark contrast to the EU’s 60% benchmark. This 26.8 percentage-point drop over the past decade is the steepest decline recorded among EU nations. In stark contrast, vocational programmes on the island have experienced a dramatic 50.2 percentage-point increase since 2013, positioning Cyprus as a leader in multilingual growth among vocational students.

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Comparative European Landscape

Multilingualism across Europe remains robust in general education, although recent figures indicate a slight decrease from 60.8% in 2022. Countries such as France (99.8%), Romania (99.1%), and Czechia (98.5%) lead the way, with Finland and Luxembourg also reporting exceptionally high participation rates of 97.7% and 97.3%, respectively. Conversely, nations like Portugal, Ireland, and Spain lag significantly behind, with only 6.7%, 10.4%, and 22.4% of students, respectively, studying multiple languages.

Vocational Education: A Study in Extremes

The landscape in vocational education is even more disparate. Romania stands at the forefront with 97.2% of vocational students studying two or more languages, followed by Finland (85%) and Poland (78%). Slovenia and Estonia also show strong performance with 71.4% and 65.8%, respectively. In comparison, Spain and Greece exhibit minimal engagement in multilingual studies, each with just 0.1% of their vocational student population.

Dominance of English and Emerging Linguistic Trends

English continues to reign supreme in European foreign language curricula, with 96.0% of upper-secondary general students and 80.1% of vocational pupils studying the language. Cyprus not only demonstrates near-universal English learning but also distinguishes itself with a notably high proportion of pupils studying French at 53.9%, one of the highest in the EU. Additionally, Russian has gained traction among vocational learners, with approximately 15% of students opting for it as a second language.

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TikTok Elevates Songwriters With Enhanced Profile Features

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 18, 2025

Introducing Enhanced Visibility For Songwriters

TikTok is poised to transform the way songwriters promote their craft by integrating a suite of new features designed to highlight their musical works on the platform. Now in beta, the update includes a dedicated “Songwriter” label and a specialized profile tab that showcases their songs, allowing creators to build a more compelling narrative around their artistry.

Survey-Driven Innovation

The enhancements stem from extensive research, with TikTok surveying over 870 songwriters and conducting in-depth interviews to identify the key needs in profile building and monetization. Supplementary data from an independent study further confirmed that more than half of social media-savvy songwriters rely on TikTok for profile promotion. Such rigorous market research underpins TikTok’s commitment to driving tangible benefits for creative professionals.

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Selective Rollout and Strategic Partnerships

At present, only a limited group of publishing partners and songwriters have access to the new features. Interested parties must join a waitlist to take part in this initiative, emphasizing TikTok’s strategy of fostering an exclusive ecosystem that prioritizes high-quality content and strategic industry alliances.

Competitive Momentum In The Music Streaming Arena

TikTok’s new tools arrive at a time when competitors are also enhancing their songwriter engagement. Spotify, for instance, has been offering dedicated features for songwriters over the years, while Tidal recently expanded its offerings by introducing royalty tracking capabilities. Despite discontinuing its TikTok Music streaming service last year, the platform continues to serve as a vital hub for music discovery and artist promotion.

Empowering Creative Storytelling

“We are passionately committed to supporting songwriters at TikTok, which is why we built these tools to celebrate and elevate their work on our platform,” stated TikTok’s Global Head of Music Publishing Licensing and Partnership. By enabling songwriters to seamlessly integrate their musical narrative with their personal content, TikTok is not only enhancing profile visibility but also building a more engaging, multi-dimensional user experience.

As TikTok continues to innovate, these developments are set to redefine how songwriters connect with their audiences and manage their creative endeavors, reaffirming the platform’s role as a pivotal force in the digital music landscape.