Doha: Under the Deanship of General Studies, Qatar University’s (QU) Foundation Program organised its ‘2nd Virtual Academic Excellence Week’ recently.
The event aimed at exchanging expertise and good educational practices of English Language Teaching (ELT) under the COVID-19 pandemic situation. It also included training workshops focusing on innovative methods of excellence that enhance online teaching and learning, with the participation of researchers and experts from local and international universities, and attendance of more than 500 ELT faculty, teachers, and specialists inside and outside Qatar.
In line with Qatar National Vision 2030, the Director of the Foundation Program (FP), Dr. Hezam Al Awah, pointed out that the event is considered one of the most important activities that the FP periodically holds for its faculty members and the wider English language teaching community. He also stressed the importance of such professional development opportunities for faculty members to enrich their knowledge of new academic content further and enhance their instructional techniques.
He added that faculty members’ participation in such events shows Qatar University’s commitment to offering innovative, high-quality opportunities to its faculty members and students. Dr. Al Awah also thanked the organising Foundation Program’s Academic Excellence and Professional Development committee at Qatar University for their valuable efforts in organizing this event.
During the three-day event, the presenters discussed recent ELT research developments. They showcased and shared various ideas, experiences, and research outcomes geared towards achieving learning outcomes and enhancing students’ engagement in virtual learning contexts.
David Nunan, a Professor Emeritus of applied linguistics at Hong Kong University and one of the most distinguished educators globally, presented the opening session, and the pioneer of student-based learning in the 1970s. In the lecture, Professor Nunan discussed this kind of learning and shared exciting highlights of his own experiences about learners’ difficulties in various educational settings and from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Several internationally recognized institutions’ speakers from Qatar, the USA, Australia, Finland, and Hong Kong presented mostly on teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL).
The event covered topics as diverse as a revised learner-centered approach, sustainability in distance teaching, increased online student engagement, and individual vs. institutional response to current educational needs.
