Enhancing pathways for international students:

Transcription

1 Enhancing pathways for international students: targeted support for law subjects from VET through to HE. Tao Bak & Helen Murphy Date Embedding support for Chinese partnership students 4 year pathway Articulating from VE (diploma) to HE (degree) Onshore and offshore locations at Victoria University. Focus area: business law subjects. Project team: Helen Murphy Student Learning Unit Tao Bak English Language Institute Academic skills advisors (VE & HE) 2 1

2 Outline The pathway Support Evaluation Concluding comments 3 The pathway 4 2

3 Victoria University: Dual sector Combined diploma/degree 3 rd year - 2 nd year 1 st year Diploma EAP (Cert III) 5 Focus on Corporate Law (2 nd year business subject) High failure rate (up to 50-%) Compulsory subject (accounting) Examination of pathway Language Across the Curriculum (LAC) Project

4 3 rd year - 2 nd year 1 st year Diploma EAP (Cert 111) 7 assumed understanding contract law Australian legal system assignment requirements student guided study critical analysis extended written responses multi-issue scenarios Business Law (HE) 3 rd year subject Corporate Law Business law (VE) small business oriented (content) Australian Training Packages teacher-guided descriptive & explanatory answers single issue scenarios contract law focus foundation concepts student guided study critical analysis extended written responses multi-issue scenarios EAP (Cert 111) generalist EAP focus 8 4

5 The support 9 EAP Program Dedicated Module Case studies / theory application focus Focus on simple theories and case studies Extending into discipline specific material explicit linkages & explanations familiarity with genres; rhetorical moves common to case study responses. Online unit (WebCT)

6 Example - Business Law

7 13 3 rd year - 2 nd year ELICOS (English Language Institute) 1 st year Diploma EAP (Cert 111)

8 ELICOS University Preparation course undergraduate Case study assessment task Tutorial skills program Corporate law Management Lecture program Management 15 Corporate Law At risk task Transition Module WebCT Expanding into general support module Targeted Workshops assignment and exams

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10 Business Law (diploma) Initial writing of materials to be embedded into student subject guide. Re-write of curriculum Explicit inclusion of academic skills and language Aim: similar tasks to first year HE credit subject Scaffolded tasks Removal of extraneous content Rewrite of materials 19 Evaluation

11 EAP case studies module Active engagement Relevant to studies Corporate Law (HE) Formal evaluations - online module mainly positive, although some students suggested more models of successful responses to assignment tasks and examination questions. Targeted workshops on assignments and exam prep. students positive, but would like more. Diploma (Business Law) Positive staff response Support for the inclusion of more comprehensive assessment tasks. 21 Concluding comments

12 Concluding comments Improvements made Development of language and skills at each stage Increased awareness among staff of pathway / alignment issues Many challenges remain Diploma course rewrite continuing EAP more discipline specific material needed. Further development of Corporate Law WebCT module Smoother pathways alignment / communication 23 Concluding comments New development: Legal Discourse Community of Practice project 3 linked projects (plus umbrella project)

13 CONTACT DETAILS Tao Bak English Language Institute School of English Language and Preparatory Programs and Services Victoria University College PHONE