Correction to: English as a medium of instruction (EMI) in computing undergraduate programs

Education and Information Technologies -     

Taiwanese higher education in a cultural perspective: a preliminary study of two premier universities

ABSTRACT

Imposing the policy lessons from higher-performing countries may involve the complex interplays of socio-cultural and institutional contexts. This article attempts to observe Taiwan’s progress in higher education from an explicit cultural perspective. It locates Taiwan among the rising group of higher education systems in East Asia. The study interrogates a wide-held understanding of higher education development and critically reflects on the “high performances” at systemic and institutional levels. It re-examines a capacity of the Western-influenced system in preserving indigenous cultural traditions while pursuing the quest for world-class status. Adopting a case study research, data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with executives and academics at two premier universities in Taiwan. The findings have shown that, due to fundamental differences, integrating traditional values with imported Western-structured institutions remains an arduous task for Taiwanese higher education. This study critiques conventional presumptions concerning the primacy of an Anglo-Saxon model in Taiwan and offers insights into the society’s efforts to bring back its own cultural values.     

Quality assurance of joint degree programs from the perspective of quality assurance agencies: experience in East Asia

Joint degree programs have gained popularity in East Asia, due to the growth of transnational higher education in the region since 2000. However, the external quality assurance (QA) and accreditation of joint degree programs is a challenge for QA agencies, as it normally involves the engagement of several institutions and multiple national accreditation procedures. The purpose of this study is to explore current QA approaches to joint degree programs in Europe and East Asia from the perspectives of QA agencies. There are four major findings from the study. First, East Asian countries tend to stipulate national regulations for a joint degree program. Second, an external QA mechanism for joint degree programs has not yet been developed in East Asian nations. Third, the adoption of international accreditation as the popular approach for joint degree programs in business fields in Asia raises the serious issue of national jurisdiction over higher education. Fourth, the European Consortium for Education's (ECA) single accreditation mode is highly recommended by QA agencies.     

高等教育大众化对地方高校的挑战及对策

高等教育大众化已是我国目前高等教育发展的一个现实,大众化对高校特别是地方高校的发展提出了新的要求。地方高校要想在大众化的趋势下得到发展,必须更新观念,采取措施,才能在大众化的高校竟争中求得发展。     

Predictive validity of the IELTS in an English as a medium of instruction environment

As access to a university education has increased globally, there have also been increases in the number of universities that use English as a medium of instruction (EMI) and in the number of non‐English‐speaking students studying in English‐speaking countries. Correspondingly, the English language proficiency of students studying in EMI environments is becoming increasingly significant. Using a large sample of 953 undergraduate students at an EMI university in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this paper examines the predictive validity of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as it pertains to the academic success of students as determined by grade point average and addresses implications and appropriateness of further language support. Results indicate that IELTS scores are a meaningful predictor of academic success, especially in the EMI environment that exists in the UAE. Lower than the IELTS guidelines, an IELTS 6.0 seems to be a key benchmark that predicts academic success. It may be that this more moderate English proficiency score is a better fit for non‐English‐speaking countries, but that further language support embedded into degree programmes is necessary except at the highest proficiency levels, and that a bilingual option should be considered at the lowest proficiency levels.     

English as a medium of instruction at a Chilean engineering school: Experiences in finance and industrial organization courses

Implementing English as a medium of instruction (EMI) in Latin American countries contributes to reducing language exchange isolation in the region and helps prepare higher education students for future labor opportunities. However, one of the main concerns around EMI is whether English instruction could negatively affect content acquisition. This paper examines if the performance of native Spanish speakers is affected by EMI. Specifically, it discusses experiences from finance and industrial organization courses given to industrial engineers at a Chilean university. The results of a multivariate analysis of tests and final grades show that performance differences can mainly be attributed to students’ performance in previous courses; only on rare occasions do language, gender, and attendance explain performance differences.     

Interpretations of formative assessment in the teaching of English at two Chinese universities: a sociocultural perspective

Formative assessment is increasingly being implemented through policy initiatives in Chinese educational contexts. As an approach to assessment, formative assessment derives many of its key principles from Western contexts, notably through the work of scholars in the UK, the USA and Australia. The question for this paper is the ways that formative assessment has been interpreted in the teaching of College English in Chinese Higher Education. The paper reports on a research study that utilised a sociocultural perspective on learning and assessment to analyse how two Chinese universities – an urban-based Key University and a regional-based Non-Key University – interpreted and enacted a China Ministry of Education policy on formative assessment in College English teaching. Of particular interest for the research were the ways in which the sociocultural conditions of the Chinese context mediated understanding of Western principles and led to their adaptation. The findings from the two universities identified some consistency in localised interpretations of formative assessment which included emphases on process and student participation. The differences related to the specific sociocultural conditions contextualising each university including geographical location, socioeconomic status, and teacher and student roles, expectations and beliefs about English. The findings illustrate the sociocultural tensions in interpreting, adapting and enacting formative assessment in Chinese College English classes and the consequent challenges to and questions about retaining the spirit of formative assessment as it was originally conceptualised.     

地方师范院校文化素质教育现状调查研究

高校开展文化素质教育已近20年,然而文化素质教育边缘化的状态依然没有得到本质上的改变。鉴于地方师范院校在全国基础教育中的基础性及战略性地位,项目组对淮南师范学院的学生文化素质现状和淮南师范学院等5所地方师范院校的文化素质教育现状进行了较为全面的调查、评估和分析,以期为完善地方师范院校的文化素质教育提供依据和支撑。     

我国民办高校的信用困境与对策分析

目前我国民办高校面临的信用困境不是短板效应,而是整个信用体系有待确立的问题.民办高校走出信用困境的现实路径是坚持品牌发展战略,立足高等职业教育,形成差异化竞争优势.同时完善法人治理结构,建立高效的人力资本价值实现机制.     

关于地方高校实施人才强校战略的几点思考

进入新世纪新阶段，党中央做出了实施人才强国战略的重大决策，高等学校作为培养人才的重要基地，在实施人才强国战略中担负着特殊重要的责任和使命。同样人才问题，也是高校改革与发展的核心问题和头等大事。面对新形势，许多高校及时地提出了人才强校战略。笔者认为地方高校如何应对挑战，也应实施人才强校战略。     

Local language a medium of instruction: challenges and way forward

The paper reports on a participatory action research study conducted in six rural primary schools in Uganda in 2013 to establish why children taught in the local language had difficulties in reading and writing. Findings through interviews, focus group discussions, reviews of exercise books and lesson observations indicated that though it was easier for pupils to learn the concepts in the local language; challenges ranging from poor translation, inadequate teachers’ language proficiency, lack of instructional materials, high pupils’ enrolment, lack of administrative support and teacher-centred approach of teaching, affected pupils’ learning to read and write. Participants recommended adopting the child-centred pedagogy, incorporating instructional materials, conducting continuous assessment and recording pupils’ competencies attained in reading and writing. Teachers need to engage more in Participatory action research in order to reflect on their practices and pupils’ learning, and collaboratively decide what works best and what needs improvement in their classrooms.     

The role of the English learner facilitator in developing teacher capacity for the instruction of English learners

As a field, we have a limited understanding and a dearth of empirical research concerning the role of high school instructional coaches focused on English learners (ELs). This paper examines one EL facilitator’s work as an instructional coach and resource for supporting mainstream content teachers as they learn to meet the needs of adolescent ELs in one high school. This analysis is grounded within an examination of the influence of school structure and organization on the EL facilitator’s work and her role as a resource. Drawing on sociocultural learning theory, as well as literature on teacher leadership and instructional coaching, case study data from a year-long qualitative research project are analyzed. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.     

国际视角下高校双语教学质量提升分析

高校双语教学有了一定的发展,但是双语教学的瓶颈日益凸显,本文从国际视角出发,研究教师能力的拓展,教师心态的正确定位,以及国际双语教学模式的借鉴对我国双语教学质量提升的重要意义,期待能为我国双语教学的发展提供参考。     

地方高校学生英语口语交际能力的培养

地方高校大学生英语口语交际能力缺弱有以下表现:不会说;没得说;不愿说.而这种种缺弱源自于他们英语学习的先天不良、后天失调和学习动机低迷.要想提高地方高校大学生英语口语交际能力,必须针对问题进行综合治理:针对先天不良,补足"营养",加强英语口语训练;针对后天失调,创设英语口语练习环境;针对学生英语口语学习动机不足,培养学习自信,激发兴趣.     

Global references,local translation: adaptation of the Bologna Process degree structure and credit system at universities in Cameroon

This article uses temporal comparison and thematic analytical approaches to analyse text documents and interviews, examining the adaptation of the Bologna Process degree structure and credit system in two sub-systems of education in Cameroon: the Anglo-Saxon and the French systems. The central aim is to verify whether such adaptation has replaced, re-enforced or modified existing practices. Secondly, the article analyses the factors that have influenced this adaptation. The results highlight the idea that education systems may demonstrate a level of awareness about global practices, but these practices are interpreted in their local contexts; thus, policy-makers ‘think globally but act locally’.     

Challenges presented to personal theories,beliefs and practices of play in Abu Dhabi kindergartens: the English Medium teacher perspective

Abu Dhabi Education Council’s new school model recognizes the value of play, although anecdotal evidence suggests that there are challenges to play in the preschool context. This article reports on challenges from the English Medium teacher perspective. Findings show that challenges are related to: (a) children meeting teacher expectations for play which may be limited by: real-life exposure, the nanny’s role, a desert climate for outdoor play, overuse of technology; and English as an additional language; (b) acquiring adequate resources for play, including open-access to Internet sites, meaning teachers have to use their own money to provide resources for play; (c) establishing boundaries and managing behaviour, especially for boys; (d) working with conflicting time pressures caused by academic performance benchmarking, accountability and workload; and (e) working with diversity, including meeting parental expectations, collaborating with colleagues and understanding the cultural and linguistic background of children. Recommendations to lessen the challenges of nurturing appropriate play experiences are made within the context of the findings.     

Articulating identities – the role of English language education in Indian universities

ABSTRACT

This paper analyses how community, national and ethnic identities are affirmed, negotiated, marginalized as a part of hegemony-making and resistance in the context of English education in Indian universities. We argue and demonstrate that a complex and ambivalent hegemony that has been operational since the colonial times, continues to shape English education in India. Today, English and English education play a major role in articulating, binding and dividing multiple identities and knowledge systems. In the first part of the paper, we critically review debates and discussions on the significance of English language education in institutes of higher education in India. Specifically, we focus on discourses on the rationale behind continuing and contesting English education. The second part examines how in the postmodern context, English is being taught differently to different groups and highlights how these contexts of teaching have been defining knowledge systems, patterns of dominance and also, articulating resistance.     

广西地方高校双学位人才培养实施状况调查研究

双学位教育是社会发展要求和高等教育发展的趋势,通过跨学科交叉学习,补充与丰富人才培养形式,提高高校人才培养质量。但目前广西地方高校双学位教育上存在一些问题,究其原因主要由主观和客观不同方面因素,并提出对策与建议以改善双学位人才培养实施情况。     

创新人才培养与大学教学思想的变革:国际比较的视角

在世纪之交兴起的高等教育改革运动中。世界各国大学都不约而同地把培养创新人才作为大学的培养目标。为了培养创新人才，各国大学普遍注意普通教育与专业教育的平衡，重视能力培养。倡导启发武教学。强调探究性学习，提倡教学的个性化。