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Highlights UNESCO Chair Intercultural Competences Newsletter

The newsletter reports on the UN Summit of the Future which happened in September in New York City, USA, with the theme “Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow” where member states agreed on working on seven pillars: governance reform, climate action, technology for the common good, human rights, peace and security, and strengthened multilateral partnerships prioritizing the interests of future generations in global decision-making. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that while war is a choice, so is peace.

In what regards the role of applied linguists in the creation of conditions for this peace, we highlight some of the issues that were addressed in the summit that are of special relevance to us: 

  1. Emphasis on Intercultural Dialogue:
    • The summit stressed the importance of intercultural and intergenerational dialogue in peacebuilding and global cooperation, highlighting the role of language in fostering understanding across cultures.
  2. Focus on Human Rights:
    • Discussions around human rights included the protection of marginalized populations, emphasizing the need for linguistic accessibility in education and healthcare to ensure universal rights.
  3. Global Governance and Communication:
    • The call for global governance reform includes improving communication strategies within international frameworks, which is critical for effective collaboration among diverse language groups and populations.
  4. Educational Initiatives:
    • The summit’s focus on education aligns with our endorsed goal of promoting language education that supports sustainable development, diversity and inclusion.
  5. Technological Impact on Language:
    • The discussions on the use of technology for the common good, especially regarding AI, raised important questions about language representation, ethics, and the need for multilingual capabilities in technological solutions. It also stressed the need for global ethical guidelines and reinforced cybersecurity.
  6. Multilingualism and Global Identity:
    • The summit highlighted the idea of a global identity which recognizes multilingualism, and we underscore the role of applied linguists in promoting language diversity, inclusion and equity. Noting that this is the most fraught time since World War II, themes from the Interactive Dialogue on Peace and Security included the importance of focusing on shared values, particularly around human rights, the need to embrace inclusivity in peacebuilding efforts and the role of solidarity to address causes of conflict. The importance of intercultural and intergenerational dialogue was also stressed.
  7. Partnerships and Collaborations:
    • The emphasis on partnerships and collaborations suggests opportunities to engage in projects that contribute to global initiatives and dialogue that promote diversity in addressing these pressing global challenges.

The newsletter also reports on the UNESCO Chair Forum which took place in Ethiopia with the theme "Transforming Knowledge for Africa's Future," convening over 500 scholars, policymakers, educators, and stakeholders from 90 countries to discuss pivotal issues in education, culture, science, and sustainable development. The forum aligned with Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including discussions related to the recent Pact of the Future from the UN Summit. It emphasized the need for inclusive and principled dialogue to co-create visions for Africa’s future.

UNESCO Co-Chair Dr Divinia Jithoo also contributed with a report outlining her recent experiences and insights to international education, focusing on the importance of intercultural competence and equitable practices in higher education internationalization focusing on decolonial approaches. Her highlights include the need to address power dynamics in international partnerships and a discussion on the importance of languages, access to technology and virtual exchange for a more inclusive internationalization.

in featured stories / UNESCO

ISB14 Call for papers – Abstract submission portal now open

International Symposium on Bilingualism 14
– Diversity Now –

Now Accepting Abstract Submissions

The 14th International Symposium on Bilingualism will take place on 26-30 June 2023 at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.

The theme of the conference is Diversity Now. The United Nations General Assembly has declared the period between 2022 and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages to draw attention to the critical status of many Indigenous languages across the world and to encourage action for their preservation, revitalisation, and promotion. ISB14 especially encourages submissions of work involving lesser-studied bilingual communities and interdisciplinary work examining bilingualism across cultures, societies, and the life-span.

ISB14 invites submissions in all areas of research on bilingualism and multilingualism, including but not limited to: linguistics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, applied linguistics, neuropsychology, language acquisition, clinical linguistics, language and education, and multilingual societies.

Keynote speakers include:

  • Christos Pliatsikas (Centre for Literacy and Multilingualism, School of Psychological and Clinical Language Science, University of Reading)
  • Ingrid Piller (Centre for Workforce Futures, Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University)
  • Kevin Kien Hoa Chung (Department of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong)
  • Kilian Seeber (Faculty of Translation and Interpreting, University of Geneva)
  • Leher Singh (Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore)
  • Ofelia Garcia (Urban Education and Latin American, Iberian, and Latino Cultures, City University of New York)
  • Sharynne McLeod (School of Education, Charles Sturt University)

We invite abstracts for two categories of submissions: individual papers and posters.

Individual papers are formal presentations on original research or pedagogy-focused topics by one or more authors, lasting a maximum of 20 minutes with 5 additional minutes for discussion.

Posters on original research or pedagogy will be displayed in sessions that offer the opportunity for individualised, informal discussion with others in the field. Posters are especially effective for presenting work-in-progress, fieldwork, and results of empirical research for which data can be presented visually. Posters will be available throughout an entire day of the conference with presenters in attendance for a 90-minute poster session.

Abstract submission is now open and will end on 30 November 2022.

Abstracts should be a maximum of 300 words in length, anonymised and submitted in English via the submission portal https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/3999/submitter.

Abstracts will be reviewed anonymously. Notification of acceptance will be sent by 28 February 2023.

Enquiries regarding the academic content of submissions should be addressed to the ISB14 Scientific Committee via ISB14.ScientificCommittee@westernsydney.edu.au. For general inquiries about the conference please email the Organisational Committee at ISB14@mq.edu.au.

in featured stories / Research