Beyond the Crisis: Revitalising Languages in Australian Universities
BACKGROUND
For some years there has been growing concern about the state of languages in Australian Universities. From 2006 the Australian Academy of the Humanities has conducted two research studies on beginners’ languages in Australian universities. Supported by the Learned Academy Special Project grants of the Australian Research Council these studies have revealed a widely shared need for systematic and regular communication and collaboration across the languages sector.
PURPOSE
A key aim of the February 2009 colloquium is to strengthen existing networks by providing the basis of an ongoing association of those involved in teaching, researching and administering languages in the Australian University system. The colloquium seeks to contribute to the development of a stronger culture of languages in higher education in Australia. While not limited to beginners’ languages, it acknowledges the crucial importance of this segment of university languages teaching, and its preponderance in many institutions.
The colloquium acknowledges the significantly different needs for different languages in the practical work required to bolster each language in its teaching, research and management. The overriding principle of the colloquium however is that all languages, and the nation, will benefit from a more strongly articulated language teaching and learning culture in higher education.
COLLOQUIUM VENUE & DIRECTION
Economics and Commerce Building - Building 148.
Map Reference G13:
http://www.pb.unimelb.edu.au/CampusMaps/Parkville_P.pdf
For more information about the Colloquium please email
Elisabetta Ferrari: eferrari@unimelb.edu.au