This book highlights the centrality of political and ideological issues as they relate to the positioning and practice of English for Academic Purposes (EAP), demonstrating that EAP cannot flourish as a profession or a discipline without an awareness of the macro- and meso-level political shifts that impact the wider university. The volume states that the practices of EAP are, in fact, political acts
and examines these as yet unexplored power dynamics.
The volume begins by considering key influences that have shaped universities and their governance and management over the last three decades and how these relate to the role and practice of EAP. These influences include neoliberal economic policies, governmental demands for widening participation, globalization, entrepreneurial approaches to higher education, students as clients and therapeutism in universities. Following consideration of these broader contextual issues, specific chapters focus on politics and policies surrounding the recruitment and participation of international, fee-paying students, their positioning and identity within English-medium universities, including issues relating to English language, standards and academic integrity. Further chapters then consider more local influences that shape EAP programmes, such as their strategic roles within universities, their management, their teaching and wider academic impact.
Part I: Larger Contextual Influences on Contemporary Higher Education 1. Universities in the 21st Century: Structures, Funding, Management and Governance, Ian Bruce, (University of Waikato, New Zealand) 2. The Ideologies and Practices of Internationalization within Universities, Jenna Mittelmeier and Bowen Zhang (University of Manchester, UK) 3. The Economics, Ethics and Discourse of Recruiting ‘International Students’, Sylvie Lomer (University of Manchester, UK) and Ying Yang (University of Manchester, UK Part II: Issues Relating to International Students and English Language 4. International Students in Higher Education: Standards of English and Assessment, Neil Murray (University of Warwick, UK) 5. Proofreading in a UK University Writing Centre: Perspectives and Practices, Chang Liu and Nigel Harwood (Sheffield University, UK) 6. The Positioning and Purpose of EAP across the University: International Students, Academic Staff and English, Bee Bond (University of Leeds, UK) Part III: EAP Programmes: Conceptualization, Organization and Delivery 7. The Differing Discursive Constructions of EAP within the University: Contrasting Institutional and Language Centre Perspectives, Jennifer J. MacDonald (Dalhousie University, Canada) 8. Perspectives on Directing an EAP Centre, Richard Simpson (University of Sheffield, UK) 9. The Impact of Neoliberal Managerial Policies on the Roles and Identities of Practioners of EAP in Precarity (PEAPPs), Michèle Le Roux (University of Birmingham, UK; Cara (Council for At Risk Academics) Syria Project) Part IV: Collective Organization and Positioning of EAP and the Future 10. Association: Power, Politics and Policy, Alex Ding (University of Leeds, UK) and Ian Bruce (University of Waikato, New Zealand) 11. Final Reflections: Key themes, their implications and the future, Ian Bruce (University of Waikato, New Zealand) and Bee Bond (University of Leeds, UK) Index
Ian Bruce is Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Bee Bond is Associate Professor of EAP at the University of Leeds, UK.
Reviews for Contextualizing English for Academic Purposes in Higher Education: Politics, Policies and Practices
This excellent collection offers a vibrant and innovative take on the institutional challenges, pedagogic approaches, and structures of provision for EAP. It draws on expertise in applied linguistics, EAP scholarship, and operational management, as well as reflection on practitioner experience, including precarity. It deserves a wide readership in contemporary international higher education --Joan Turner, Emeritus Professor, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK This first-rate volume is an important and timely contribution to furthering the dialogues, debates, and research in addressing the pedagogical practices, institutional and ideological policies, and historical and political nature of English for Academic Purposes in higher education contexts worldwide. --Christian W. Chun, Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics, University of Massachusetts Boston, USA
