Policies and programme design: English-medium programmes at Europe¿s largest business school

Description

Policies and programme design: English-medium programmes at Europe’s largest business school Ongoing internationalisation processes have accelerated the implementation of English-medium programmes (EMPs) across European higher education institutions (e.g. Knight 2008). The discipline of business and management studies has been particularly affected by this trend, which is reflected in the increasing number of EMPs implemented each year in this field of study (Wächter & Maiworm 2008: 45–48). Despite this growth trend, there is still a lack of awareness of what the implementation of EMPs entails at both organisational and pedagogical levels. The study presented in this talk (Unterberger 2014) strives to contribute to filling this research gap by capturing the multifaceted nature of EMPs in tertiary business studies. The presentation will primarily focus on the findings of a case study on the implementation and operation of EMPs at Europe’s largest business school, i.e. WU, Vienna University of Economics and Business. The case study findings will be complemented and contrasted with results from the analysis of institutional internationalisation policies. By combining the policy perspective with a managerial one, the study allowed illuminating insights into curriculum and programme design of EMPs. For instance, it revealed the programme management’s perspective on language learning in EMPs and identified the role of EAP/ESP teaching (English for Academic / Specific Purposes) in the curricula of English-taught programmes. In addition, the interplay between internationalisation processes in higher education and English-medium programme design and delivery could be identified in institutional policy documents.

Period	2 Sep 2015 → 4 Sep 2015
Event title	ICLHE (Integrating Content and Language in Higher Education) 2015: At the Crossroads between Innovation and Practice
Event type	Unkonwn
Degree of Recognition	International