Current Areas of Interest

Language development in Science and Engineering Learning and SEE-U

The ICTL recognises the importance of language and language development as critical for disciplinary understanding. This is an area which has not received great attention within Science and Engineering Teaching, certainly in Higher Education. The setting of Queen Mary Engineering School in China, where Chinese students learn in English, makes this issue extremely evident. However, native speakers experience similar journeys as they delve into Science and Engineering English usage. Therefore, our work in this area is widely applicable as a strategy to support learning.

We have supported the integration of English language and Science and Engineering modules, through the development of cross-module teaching activities. Currently we are developing an online platform to support learners to support them understand the use of a range of terms within the context of Science and Engineering: Science and Engineering English Usage (SEE-U).

This work is being carried out in collaboration with Dr Colleen Cotter (School of Languages, Linguistics and Film), Dr Rosemary Clyne (School of Biological and Chemical Sciences & QMUL's Nanchang Programme), and Dr Marie-Luce Bourguet (School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science & BUPT Programme). External collaborators include: Dr Philippa Cranwell (Chemistry Department, Reading University), Dr Daniel Cornwell (Chemistry Department, King’s College London), and Dr Simon Rees (Durham Centre for Academic Development, University of Durham).

Dr Simon Rees led the Focus project at Durham University, which developed an online Corpus Tool, complementary in functionality to SEE-U

Issues affecting staff in Transnational Education in China

Transnational Education (TNE) is defined as "education delivered in a country other than the country in which the awarding institution is based". In TNE there are underlining transcultural, trans-linguistic, inter-institutional, as well as transnational issues affecting staff performance and student experience. We are currently conducting research into how these issues affect staff and the possible effects this has in teaching and learning in the context of Joint Programmes in China.

This work is being carried out in collaboration with Giovanna Comerio(University of Nottingham Ningbo), Dr Giulia De Falco(School of Biological and Chemical Sciences & QMUL's Nanchang Programme), and Dr Vindya Wijeratne(School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science & QMUL's BUPT Programme).