|
Dear Colleagues,
With the viability of language programs being again up for debate with the Australian university sector, the Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) is holding a Policy Forum on Friday 8 August, 10am–12pm AEST.
Some university administrators and education policymakers at the state and national level have recently argued that a ‘comprehensive national strategy’ will be required to safeguard the viability and success of language programs within Australian schools and universities.
The ASAA welcomes this recognition of the need for a new federal strategy on Asian literacy, which was a recommendation of our report from 2023. In the face of new threats to the language teaching at the University of Tasmania and elsewhere, the ASAA invites its members and allied groups to take part in a Policy Forum which will cover the following topics:
1. Language programs in Universities
- State of the field
- Relationship with broader Asian/area studies programs
- The status of Asian literacy
- Funding challenges
2. Language programs in Schools (primary and secondary)
- The ‘pipeline’ problem to universities
- Support to teachers (including training)
- Asian languages within broader LOTE contexts
3. The challenge of policy coordination
- Federal and state governments
- Universities
- Overseas governments
- Private sector and philanthropic organisations
|
