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26 April 2024

Western Sydney University among AUN Strategic Partners in Promoting ASEAN Higher Education English Language Capability through EMI Workshop and Training

By
Noppanun Sookping
AUN Programme Officer;

English as the Medium of Instruction (EMI) are among the mechanisms to elevate university English language proficiency and capability, one of the key priorities recognised by the ASEAN University Network (AUN) Secretariat in driving forward quality, management and interconnectedness of ASEAN higher education to the world. Recognising the importance of providing platforms and opportunities to help elevate English Language Capability of ASEAN higher education institutions, the AUN Secretariat has been exploring dialogues with international partner organisations and institutions with knowledge, experience and engagement to bring this goal into realisation.

Among AUN strategic partners in the area of university English language capability is Western Sydney University (WSU), one of Australia’s leading higher education institutions located in the Greater Western region of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. In addition to the university’s academic and talent development, WSU has also been among the international institutions at the forefront of cross-regional collaboration in developing EMI pedagogical development and capacity building in higher education. 

About WSU

Established in 1989, WSU is a world-class university with proven records of international reach and academic excellence. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes to its students, supports high-impact academic research and also fosters engagement with local communities. As of 2023, WSU ranked among the top 350 World University Rankings 2024 and the 1st place of the Impact Rankings 2023 by Times Higher Education (THE).

WSU commands strong international outreach across the globe. In the ASEAN region, the university has established presence and collaborations in a few ASEAN countries. In Viet Nam, Western Sydney University, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH),  established its campi in Ho Chi Minh City. Students enrolled in these regional campi will have the opportunity to study in either Vietnam or Australia, or even customise study plans to complete degrees granted by WSU.

Currently, WSU has also established a campus in Surabaya, Indonesia, which is currently accepting students for its August 2024 intake and official opening in September 2024.

WSU in International EMI Pedagogical Development, University Engagement and Capacity Building

Since 2013, WSU has maintained an engaging record of designing and conducting EMI capacity building programmes for a number of the East Asian universities (e.g. Huaqiao University, STUST, BUCM - Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Yanbian University) in response to the needs of these institutions. Such programmes share common focuses on language and pedagogical aspects as well as action research component, whereby participant academics are enabled to engage with and improve their own EMI teaching through practice and research.

The following are exemplary sessions featured in one of the 4-day (8 sessions) English Medium Instruction in Teaching and Research short course conducted by WSU for one of the aforementioned universities in 2023:

Sessions
1. Introduction of teaching through English Medium Instruction (EMI) – theory and practice
2. Expository pedagogy vs constructive pedagogy across culture and educational system
3.  Instruction principles of EMI: topic-based and problem-oriented EMI instruction
4.  Cognitive engagement: using language strategies to facilitate the pacing and structuring of the teaching
5.  Emotional engagement: using language strategies when providing feedback to reinforce the learning and making emotional connection with learners
6. Interactive classroom: using questioning strategies to stimulate thinking, check the learning and manage the class
7.  Analysing and designing a lesson – showcasing a recorded lesson and collaboratively analysing and evaluating the lesson from the language use, the pedagogy and the instruction; facilitating each individual lecturer to design a mini-lesson based on their new understanding of EMI teaching, and for them to present their lesson to their fellow colleagues and receive feedback and evaluation for improvement.
8. Treating EMI teaching as research: introducing action research, and guiding participant teachers to research their own EMI teaching

 

Online Introductory Webinar of EMI Poster.png

In collaboration with the AUN Secretariat, WSU is currently planning to organise an online free-for-all and open-for-all EMI Introduction Webinar on 22 May 2024 at 09.00 AM (GMT+7) for interested partners and audience from ASEAN higher education. Programme and activity details of the webinar will be announced soon.

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