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HUCOM Language 23 Jan 2010. Language in Higher Education Context & Observations. Kai-ming Cheng University of Hong Kong. Contexts. Language Higher Education Trends Hong Kong’ Future Changed Society. Context 1. Language: changing context economic tool intellectual capacity
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Language in Higher Education Context & Observations Kai-ming Cheng University of Hong Kong
Contexts • Language • Higher Education Trends • Hong Kong’ Future • Changed Society
Context 1 Language: changing context • economic tool • intellectual capacity • cultural vehicle • political identity/hegemony Emerging • Crucial in Globalization • Essential for Learning
Context 1 Essential to Education • Crucial in globalization • Language for cross-border communications • Essential for learning • Language for new sources of knowledge
Context 2 Higher Education: Dramatic reforms (1) • Rebuilding national systems • Expansions of Access • Elite institutions • Repositioning the privatesector • Private institutions • Philanthropic culture
Context 2 Higher Education: Dramatic reforms (2) • Internationalization • Internationalizing institutions • Cross border activities • Global competition:Ranking • Revisiting student learning • Reforming the formal curriculum • Broadening student experiences • Emphasizing cultural specificity
Context 2 Higher Education: Dramatic reforms (3) Among others: • Global cyber connectivity • Cross-border students • Joint programmes • Research collaborations • Off-shore campuses • Changing role of English
Context 3 Changed Society (1) • Flatter organizational structure • Frontline-workers as decision-makers • Precarious individual career engagements • Receding function of credentials
Context 3 Changed Society (2) • Communication: • the major workplace activity • Continuous learning • a lifelong expectation • Language • a key capacity for individuals
Context 4 Hong Kong: Charting its future • Settling with an Identity? • An edge over other parts of China? • The most international city in China? • A Chinese city in the international community?
Observations • Education Hub as a notion • Internationalization of institutions • Language Planning • Role of Tertiary Institutions
Observation 1 Education Hub: a notion • Undeniable responsibility of a metropolitan • A changing higher education landscape • Intensified student mobility • Language as a crucial element
Observation 2 Internationalization (1) A ladder Level 1: • One-way communications • English website & brochures • International Office • International conferences Level 2: • One-way mobility • Academics outward • Students outward
Observation 2 Internationalization (2) Level 3: • Two-way exchange • Academics inward • Student inward: local language • Ring-fenced international programmes Level 4 • International campus • Medium of instruction • Working language • Student communications
Observation 2 Internationalization (3) Throughout all levels of Internationalization Language is a critical factor!
Observation 3 Language Planning (1) • Is there a Language Policy for Hong Kong? • “Trilingual Bi-literate” • Multilingualism as a taken • What is the Chinese-English interplay? • What is the Cantonese-Putonghua interplay? • Zero-sum games?
Observation 3 Language Planning (2) • Is there Language Planning in Hong Kong? • Language Landscaping: the status quo • Needs analysis and forecasting • City language capacity building • Government language protocols • Media language requirements • Language learning environments • Language learning in schools
Observation 4 Role of Tertiary Institutions • The most critical agent of globalization • The most multinational community • The most multilingual environment • The leading force for language learning
Two major tasks: • Building the Language Capacity for Hong Kong • Internationalization vis-à-vis national and cultural identity
Undeniable Social Responsibility for Tertiary Institutions
Thank you! kmcheng@hku.hk