Academic Literacies Provision for International Students: Evaluating Impact and Quality

ISBN-13: 9783031115028 / Angielski / Twarda / 2022

Lia Blaj-Ward

Opis

This book reinterprets the relevance, quality and impact of academic literacies provision at university in light of recent higher education developments in a pandemic-transformed world. Drawing on the author's own experience of researching, implementing and assessing academic literacies provision, and on insights from broader scholarship and professional debates, the book helps set a new direction of travel for academic literacies professionals working in a variety of roles to enable and resource students’ academic and professional growth.It makes recommendations for policy, strategy and scholarship-informed practice that place value on communicating with confidence, clarity and care at university and beyond.

Spis treści

A thank-you note

Chapter 1. Introduction

Remembering…

A brief note on the broader policy and strategy environment

Academic literacies provision

Quality and impact

Wellbeing and sustainability

A brief note on my professional learning about quality and impact

Chapter-by-chapter overview

References

Chapter 2. Institutional and sector perspectives on impact and quality of academic literacies provision

“The impact cannot be measured with precision, but…”

Understanding the institutional context and parameters of academic literacies provision

Data on quality and impact: the institutional perspective

Measuring impact: language gain and learning gain

Assuring quality: external examining and external accreditation processes

A note on making quality and impact part and parcel of the natural rhythm of an institution

References

Chapter 3. Experiencing impact and quality: international student journeys

Opening section

Exploring international student experiences of academic literacies provision at university

Scenario 1 of 3: Student-led evaluation of assignment-focused academic literacies provision

Scenario 2 of 3: Impact beyond course completion

Scenario 3 of 3: Co-creating academic literacies provision with students

Closing section

References

Chapter 4. Creating impact and quality: the role of academic literacies practitioners

An opening note on wellbeing

Care-full, impact-full pedagogies for high quality learning

Practitioners as a source of impact and practitioners as evaluators

Practitioner approaches to academic literacies scholarship

A closing note

References

Chapter 5. Conclusion

Rethinking boundaries in academic literacies provision and evaluation

Pandemic-related challenges and opportunities for quality evaluation and enhancement

References

Index

O autorze

Lia Blaj-Ward is Associate Professor of Teaching and Scholarship at Nottingham Trent University, UK. She is the author of two previous Palgrave Macmillan volumes: Researching Contexts, Practices and Pedagogies in English for Academic Purposes (2014) and Language Learning and Use in English-Medium Higher Education (2017).

Blurb

“The volume provides a welcome addition to the literature. It contributes through the reframing of support for English as an Additional language (EAL) international students through the lens of ‘academic literacies’. This approach, and the vignettes throughout, show how institutions can develop in learners the practices required to ‘communicate with confidence, clarity and care’. The result will be thought-provoking reading for practitioners in the field, as well as university policy developers, management and leadership.”

— Thomas Roche, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Quality) and Dean of SCU College at Southern Cross University at the Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour & Lismore campuses, Australia

“A major strength of this book is the holistic and highly reflective approach it takes in addressing a persistent concern in higher education globally – the quality and impact of academic literacies provision. Its presentation of data-informed insights on this issue from the interlinked perspectives of institution, academic practitioner and student gives it an edge over similarly themed books, making it a must read for students, academics and policy makers alike.”

 — Bongi Bangeni, Associate Professor, University of Cape Town, South Africa

This book reinterprets the relevance, quality and impact of academic literacies provision at university in light of recent higher education developments in a pandemic-transformed world. Drawing on the author's own experience of researching, implementing and assessing academic literacies provision, and on insights from broader scholarship and professional debates, the book helps set a new direction of travel for academic literacies professionals working in a variety of roles to enable and resource students’ academic and professional growth. It makes recommendations for policy, strategy and scholarship-informed practice that place value on communicating with confidence, clarity and care at university and beyond.

Lia Blaj-Ward is Associate Professor of Teaching and Scholarship at Nottingham Trent University, UK. She is the author of two previous Palgrave Macmillan volumes: Researching Contexts, Practices and Pedagogies in English for Academic Purposes (2014) and Language Learning and Use in English-Medium Higher Education (2017).