Strengthening English Education in Hong Kong through Connection and Collaboration
QI visits alumni and presents at the 4th International EAC Conference in 2024
1 January 2025 I The Queensland Institute
Vicki Bos & Fiona Wiebusch visit HKU alumni!
In early December 2024, The Queensland Institute (QI) had the privilege of reconnecting with our alumni from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and presenting at the 4th International English Across the Curriculum (EAC) Conference at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). These meaningful moments underscored the importance of collaboration in advancing English language education globally.
Reconnecting with Alumni in Hong Kong
This visit began with heartwarming reunions between Fiona Wiebusch and Vicki Bos and our incredible alumni in Hong Kong. Together, we explored the city’s cultural and natural treasures, from sharing Dim Sum and taking in the breathtaking views at Victoria Peak to strolling through the serene Botanic Gardens and revisiting The University of Hong Kong’s iconic campus.
We’re deeply grateful to our alumni for their hospitality and meaningful moments of connection. These relationships, built through years of collaboration, remain central to our mission to empower educators beyond the classroom.
Presenting at the EAC Conference: Global Perspectives on EMI & CLIL
The EAC Conference, hosted by Hong Kong Polytechnic University, brought together educators and researchers from around the world, including Sweden, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Brazil, and the USA. The sessions showcased innovative approaches to English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), sparking dynamic discussions about advancing education globally.
Fiona and Vicki presented strategies for implementing EMI and CLIL, with a focus on case studies from Taiwan, Brazil, Hong Kong, and Australia. They highlighted the key principles and practical tools and techniques QI use to empower learning in diverse EMI contexts.
One participant shared:
"The session provided clear, actionable strategies I can take back to my college. It was refreshing to hear how educators in different contexts address similar challenges in academic development—especially how we encourage lecturers to consider language development in the classroom."
During Fiona and Vicki’s session, conference keynote presenter, Professor Maria Kuteeva from Stockholm University joined as a guest, offering valuable insights into the intersection of EMI and teacher education, enriching the discussion and inspiring us to explore these emerging areas further.
Key conference learnings for us included:
Using multimodal resources to facilitate learning and teaching in CLIL
Referencing The Multimodalities Entextualization Cycle (MEC) (Lin, 2015b) in materials development in schools
Evaluating the efficacy of using GenAI in CLIL assessment (Lo & Zin, 2024)
Changing nomenclature from ‘L2’ to ‘LX’ users, referring to students who have English as an Additional Language; fostering an inclusive approach; translanguaging (Keeva, 2024)
Looking Ahead to 2025
Our time in Hong Kong reinforced the power of global collaboration in driving educational innovation. Reconnecting with alumni and sharing ideas at the EAC Conference inspired us to continue fostering connections and innovation in EMI/CLIL.
As we look to 2025, we remain committed to delivering professional development programs tailored to unique contexts, strengthening English language education on a global scale.
Connect with Us
Interested in learning more about our international collaborations and upcoming initiatives?
Connect with Philippa and Fiona via email to learn more. We’d love to hear from you!
View some of our photo gallery below or see the full tour on our Facebook page HERE.
