Semarang – Universitas Negeri Semarang, through the Faculty of Languages and Arts, continues to strengthen student competencies through learning and achievement measurement oriented to international standards. One of the forms is through the participation of students of the French Language and French Literature Education Study Program in the Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF), organized by the Alliance Française de Semarang.
DELF is a French-language proficiency certification that assesses participants’ competence across six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. This multi-level certification system provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their French language skills objectively, according to their respective levels of competence. Participation in the DELF test is not limited to a specific semester, so students can take the exam when they are ready and at their level of language proficiency.
These activities are closely related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 4: Quality Education. Foreign language proficiency and competency certification are part of efforts to provide quality, inclusive, and competency-oriented education that is relevant to global needs. Through DELF certification, students can measure their competence against recognized international standards.
In addition to supporting SDG 4, strengthening foreign language competence also contributes to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Measurable foreign language skills can enhance graduates’ competitiveness and expand their access to further education, employment, exchange programs, and international professional opportunities.
From the perspective of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, foreign language proficiency also plays an important role in building communication and collaboration across countries and cultures. The ability to communicate in an international language opens opportunities for students to engage with a broader academic and professional network and to support global collaboration.
The implementation of the DELF test also reflects a lifelong learning approach. Students not only gain knowledge through lectures but are also encouraged to actively assess their competence, participate in external assessments, and improve their abilities on an ongoing basis.
Thus, the participation of French Language and French Literature Education students in the DELF test is not only a means of obtaining language proficiency certification but also part of efforts to develop human capital that is competent, adaptive, and globally insightful. The initiative supports the implementation of the SDGs in the higher education environment through strengthening the quality of education and student readiness to face global challenges.
In the context of measuring student sustainability literacy, DELF activities can be seen as a structured, internationally standardized measure of student competence. However, because DELF specifically measures French-language competence, sustainability literacy must still be assessed using instruments or activities that explicitly measure students’ knowledge, attitudes, and competencies related to sustainable development.
