History
Mercator was founded as an initiative of the European Commission to meet the growing interest in minority and
regional languages and the increasing need of the language communities to exchange experiences and cooperate in a European context. Through Mercator it has become possible to improve the accessibility and exchange of information in a more systematic way.
Structure
Mercator is a network of three research and documentation centres. Each of the three centres has its own thematic programme and specialist role related to minority and regional languages: Mercator Education at the Fryske Akademy, Ljouwert (NL), studies education at all levels; Mercator Legislation at the CIEMEN foundation, Barcelona (E), is concerned with language legislation and language in public administration; Mercator Media at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (UK) deals with the press and the media.
Goals
Mercator-Education’s main goal is to gather, store and distribute information through a documentation and information network for regional and minority languages in the European Union. Its research projects aim at making comparisons among the language communities.
Target groups
Our target groups are policy-makers, teachers, students, researchers, journalists and the public at large.
Funding
Mercator Education is funded by the European Union and the Fryske Akademy.
http://www.mercator-education.org/
