II NEOLAiA International Symposium on Language Policy
EMI and Plurilingualism for Global Higher Education: Strategies, Challenges, and Opportunities
PLENARY SESSION
Date: June 19, 2026
Time: 09:30–10:30 CET
Location: Online
Link: Access here
Plenary Speaker: Dr. Domingos Sávio Pimentel Siqueira (Bahia Federal University)
Chair: Dr. María Luisa Pérez Cañado (University of Jaén)
International Universities, National Norms? The Transformative Role of ELF in Rethinking EMI, Decolonizing English, and Fostering Plurilingualism in Higher Education
As English-Medium Instruction (EMI) continues to expand across higher education worldwide, important questions arise about which forms of English are valued and legitimized in international academic environments. In this plenary session, Dr. Pimentel Siqueira explores the tension between universities’ internationalization goals and the continued dominance of traditional US and UK English norms.
Drawing on research from diverse global contexts, he examines how English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) offers a more inclusive and realistic approach to communication in increasingly plurilingual academic communities. The session highlights the potential of ELF to challenge linguistic hierarchies, promote linguistic and epistemic justice, contribute to the decolonization of English, and support more democratic and plurilingual approaches to internationalization in higher education.
II NEOLAiA International Symposium on Language Policy
LIVE-STREAMED SESSIONS
PLENARY SESSION (June 18) - Shaping the Future: Realizing Higher Education Plurilingual Policies and Action
Date: June 18, 2026
Time: 17:00–18:00 (CET)
Location: Online
Link to event: Acess here
Plenary Speaker: Dr. David Marsh (Fellow, Royal Society of Arts)
Chair: Dr. Antroulla Papakyriakou (University of Nicosia)
Shaping the Future: Realizing Higher Education Plurilingual Policies and Action
Higher education is undergoing a profound transformation driven by global, technological, and societal change. In this plenary session, Dr. Marsh examines how plurilingual policies can help universities move beyond incremental adaptation toward meaningful institutional renewal.
Drawing on a framework developed for a large Spanish-speaking public university, he explores how English as an additional language can strengthen teaching, learning, research, and international engagement. The session will also highlight the cognitive benefits of multilingualism and the growing importance of pluriliteracies in an AI-driven world, demonstrating how language strategy can become a catalyst for innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable change across higher education institutions.
ROUND TABLE SESSION (June 19) - Internationalization, Language Policy and Plurilingualism in Higher Education
Date: June 19, 2026
Time: 09:30–10:30 (CET)
Location: Online
Link to event: Acess here
Speakers:
Panayiotis Angelides (University of Nicosia)
Dimitri Beckmann (University of Örebro)
Alexis Chommeloux (University of Tours)
Mariarosaria Colucciello (University of Salerno)
José Ignacio Jiménez González (University of Jaén)
Aurelian Rotaru (“Ştefan Cel Mare” University of Suceava)
Markus Symmank (University of Bielefeld)
Renáta Tomášková (University of Ostrava)
Chair: Dr. Antroulla Papakyriakou (University of Nicosia)
Internationalization, Language Policy and Plurilingualism in Higher Education
This round table brings together representatives from NEOLAiA partner universities to discuss the role of language policy in shaping the future of higher education. They will reflect on the linguistic realities of their institutions, examining current strengths, challenges, and approaches to multilingual education.
The discussion will explore the implementation of NEOLAiA’s Language Policy White Paper, the development of structures that promote plurilingualism and interculturalism, and the opportunities for collaboration across universities to support students, academic staff, and administrative communities.
The session will also address key issues such as the future of English-Medium Instruction (EMI), the potential of multilingual and bilingual degree programs, and practical strategies for creating more inclusive and internationally connected universities. Through the exchange of experiences and perspectives, the round table aims to identify practical actions and shared initiatives to strengthen internationalization while embracing linguistic and cultural diversity.
PLENARY SESSION (June 20) - Global Universities: Languages as Catalysts for International Higher Education
Date: June 20, 2026
Time: 09:30–10:30 (CET)
Location: Online
Link to event: This session will be recorded and subsequently uploaded on YouTube.
Plenary Speaker: Dr. Víctor M. Pavón Vázquez (University of Córdoba)
Chair: Dr. Diego Rascón Moreno (University of Jaén)
Global Universities: Languages as Catalysts for International Higher Education
As internationalization becomes a defining priority for universities worldwide, language policies play an increasingly strategic role in shaping its success. In this plenary session, Dr. Pavón Vázquez examines how languages can act as catalysts for international higher education, supporting both global engagement and educational quality.
The presentation explores the different dimensions of internationalization, from mobility and international research collaboration to internationalization at home, and discusses the importance of coherent language policies that promote teaching, learning, and knowledge production in both additional languages and the mother tongue. Dr. Pavón Vázquez also addresses the institutional, organizational, and human factors that influence the design and implementation of effective language strategies, highlighting the need to balance institutional leadership with active engagement from academic and administrative communities.