English as a Medium of Education, Multilingualism and the SDGs: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

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English as a Medium of Education, Multilingualism and the SDGs: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Convenors

 

The scope of this ReN – EME – English as a Medium of Education, Multilingualism and the SDGs: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion- broadly speaking, is to cover research on how applied linguistics can be related to the development of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) to pursue UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) specially in relation to SDG 4n- quality of education, SDG 5 - gender equality and SDG 16 -  peace, justice and strong institutions, through the use of Virtual Exchange (VE), English as a Medium of Education (EME) to increase access to technology and information/education in other languages to foster multilingualism, EDI and sustainability through the work of applied linguistics. As its starting point, the ReN draws on AILA’s endorsed principles and guidelines[1] (the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the BAAL Good Practices Guidelines), on the conceptualization of AIALA[2]  and recent collaborative work of AILA regional associations to better reflect the global linguistic diversity within AILA and on work being developed by BAAL in terms of an EDI statement. Recent sociopolitical events have demonstrated the critical importance for more inclusive, regional/global collaboration and multilingual perspectives in all areas of science, including applied linguistics to make sure that education, access to information and science are available to all and used to develop EDI and SDGs.

Research in the ReN will explore the role of applied linguistics in striving to achieve these SDGs focusing, in particular, on the provision of inclusive education opportunities through EME, VE, SDGs and multilingualism for quality, equity and inclusion and the development of relevant future-ready skills and sustainable development in an ecology of knowledges and languages.

Like AIALA, this REN reconceptualizes AILA “regional” membership and action beyond physical residence/ geographical location, focusing instead on shared goals and linguistic bonds to promote EDI/SDG/VE/EME and inclusive, multilingual approaches. The ReN is open to a range of research methods, theories and traditions in different contexts as well as to transdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research (e.g. technology, sociology, education, business, economics, geography, human rights, etc).

The ReN includes established and emerging researchers from four countries and three continents (Brazil, UK, Malaysia and Spain) which are part of all AILA regional associations.  The network provides a platform for information, networking, support and scholarship for both scholars and students with an interest in the topics covered by the REN and encourage applied linguists to venture into more practical and policy-engaged linguistic efforts that aim to contribute to achieving the SDGs.