Rector Jun Liu attends EIL education forum, explores potential cooperation with Chulalongkorn University
The English as an International Language (EIL) Program, an interdisciplinary/international program of Chulalongkorn University, held the 3rd EIL Academic Forum. Professor Jun Liu, rector of the City University of Macau (CityU), recently attended the forum and delivered a keynote address titled “EMI in the Digital Era: Opportunities and Challenges.” Professor Liying Cheng, dean of the School of Education, and Professor Andy Curtis also delivered their speeches.
During an invited meeting with Professor Wilert Puriwat, acting president of Chulalongkorn University, Rector Jun Liu congratulated Professor Puriwat on his new tenure. The two sides discussed potential areas for cooperation and the internationalization in higher education.
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Rector Jun Liu, in his speech, highlighted the growing global adoption of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI), driven by globalization. He emphasized the opportunities it presented for educators and learners to enhance their English proficiencies, access curriculum with global values, and gain wider variety of opportunities. He also acknowledged the unprecedented opportunities and challenges brought by EMI in the digital age, emphasizing its close link to educational internationalization.
Rector Jun Liu delved into the development trajectory and history of EMI, analyzing the current state of its development and its key role in higher education. He highlighted core issues such as the shortage of teachers possessing sufficient language competency, content and language integration, the lack of specific training and professional development, and the common challenges faced by students and institutions.
Rector Liu highlighted new challenges, particularly in balancing language proficiency and technological literacy, brought about by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology, even as it empowered EMI development. He proposed six key dimensions for consideration, urging a focus on comprehensive internationalization, curriculum reform and innovation, teacher competency development, learner readiness, assessment, and campus environment, in order to promote the effective implementation and application of EMI in the digital age.
Dean Cheng shared the relations between motivation and anxiety in language learning and assessment in her speech. She encouraged students to enhance their learning motivation, overcome learning obstacles, and cultivate self-directed learning.
During the forum, Rector Jun Liu, Dean Cheng Liying, and Professor Andy Curtis participated in a panel discussion, engaging in dialogue with other experts and scholars on the widely discussed topics in English teaching.
The Chulalongkorn University is the oldest university in Thailand and is considered the most prestigious university in the country. It is home to 19 faculties, 2 graduate schools, 1 branch campus, 11 research institutes, 2 educational centers, and 3 affiliated schools. It is ranked among the top 100 universities in the QS World University Rankings for academic reputation. In terms of rankings by subjects, its Dentistry and Performing Arts programs are ranked within the top 51-80, Development Studies is ranked 51st, and Engineering and Chemistry are ranked at the top 100. As a public, autonomous research university, it is a member of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), the Association of Asian Universities (AUA), and the Academic Consortium 21. It has also received accreditations from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), and the Association of MBAs (AMBA). The Chulalongkorn University is committed to being a center for academic research and professional excellence. It is highly regarded as a compass for the development of national higher education and professional research.
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