The 21st AILA World Congress 2024, celebrating six decades of transformative contributions to applied linguistics, occurred from 11 to 16 August 2024 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Chaired by SEGi University’s Professor Dr. Shameem Rafik-Galea, the event brought together 1,800 delegates from 75 countries under the theme “Linguistic Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Sustainability.” Among the highlights was SEGi University’s impressive representation through five expert speakers, each contributing to the congress with innovative research that advanced global conversations on language education and sustainability.
Professor Dr. Shameem Rafik-Galea led the SEGi delegation with her insightful presentation on “Translanguaging Practices of English Language Instructors in Malaysian ESL Tertiary Classrooms,” shedding light on inclusive teaching practices. Dr. Ena Bhattacharyya followed with her research on “The Role of Spoken Discourse Markers in Shaping Engineering Students’ Oral Presentation Competence,” emphasising the integration of technical and linguistic expertise in education. Lt. Col. Dr. Enock A/L Amalanathan and Dr. Latha Ravindran shared their work on “Innovative Paths in CLIL: Identifying Unaffected Areas for Improvement,” exploring new teaching methods that enrich content and language learning. Dr. Lee Kam Fong’s presentation on “Unveiling the Dynamics of Interaction between Scammer and Victim in Online Romance Fraud Conversations” captivated the audience, bringing fresh insights into digital communication. Phang Wai Leng, with her well-received poster on “Building Resilient: Development of Preschool Integrated-Thematic-Instruction Stream Module for Teacher Skills and Knowledge Enhancement,” showcased how early childhood education could foster resilience and innovation.
SEGi University’s contributions aligned perfectly with the congress’s core theme of promoting equity and sustainability in language education. Each of these SEGi experts brought forward cutting-edge research, demonstrating the university’s commitment to addressing global challenges through applied linguistics. Their participation highlighted SEGi’s role as a leader in academic excellence, particularly in fostering inclusive and sustainable practices in education.
The congress served as a platform for robust discussions on critical issues like linguistic diversity, sustainability in education, and how applied linguistics can support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SEGi University’s presence, particularly through the thought leadership of its five speakers, underscored the institution’s dedication to advancing quality education, reducing inequalities, and fostering sustainable communities globally.
The AILA World Congress 2024 was a testament to SEGi University’s growing influence in the field of applied linguistics. The contributions from its faculty members not only enriched the congress but also reinforced SEGi’s mission to drive impactful research that promotes sustainability and inclusivity in education.
This event is organised in support of the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG):
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
