Media

HKU to hold International Conference on "Language Issues in English-medium Universities: A Global Concern"

17 Jun 2008

The impact of English as a medium of instruction in universities is far reaching. The following language issues will be explored by over 250 attendees from Hong Kong and around the world in an international conference entitled "Language Issues in English-medium Universities: A Global Concern":

• national and institutional medium of instruction policies;
• the dynamics of English and other local, foreign and minority languages in higher education;
• integrating language and content in higher education contexts;
• the use of English across disciplines;
• evaluation and assessment issues;
• the interaction of the formal and informal curriculum;
• the attitudes, experiences and practices of students and staff;
• language identity and its impact on learning; and
• language issues in English-medium universities in specific contexts and disciplines.

The Conference is co-hosted by the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Education in collaboration with the English Centre, The University of Hong Kong, and funded as part of the University's Strategic Research Theme on "Languages, Media and Communication: Language in Education and Assessment".

This is an international conference where experiences will be shared by renowned scholars in the field and presenters from over 30 countries including Africa, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, Portugal, Iran, Lebanon, Brazil, Mexico, USA, Canada, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand.

Members of the press are invited to attend the three plenary presentations:

1) Professor Robert Phillipson from Copenhagen Business School on "English, Panacea or Pandemic?" on June 18 (Wed) at 9:30 - 10:30a.m.

2) Professor Jim Cummins from University of Toronto on "From Compound and Coordinate Bilingualism to Multicompetence and Multiliteracies: Challenging Dogma or Embracing Heresies?" on June 19 (Thur) at 4:30 - 5:30p.m.

3) Professor Amy BM Tsui from The University of Hong Kong on "Internationalization of Higher Education and Linguistic Paradoxes" on June 20 (Fri) at 9:30 - 10:30a.m.

Note: Members of the press are welcome to attend the Conference. The details are:

Date: June 18-20, 2008

Time: 9:15-17:30 (June 18, 2008)
         9:30-17:30 ( June 19, 2008)
         9:30-16:00 ( June 20, 2008)

Venue: Rayson Huang Theatre, The University of Hong Kong

For any queries about the Conference, please contact Ms. Queenie Wong, Development and Communications Officer, Faculty of Education, HKU (Tel: 2219 4270 / mobile: 9220 5840 / fax: 2540 6360 / email: qlpwong@hku.hk)