Links with Khon Kaen University strengthened

This is the first time the conference was held in Asia.

Senior Lecturer Dr Karen Ashton represented Massey at the conference and delivered a workshop entitled Examining and developing tasks for task-based language teaching.

On 22 June, Dr Karen Ashton and Head of the School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication Professor Kerry Taylor met with colleagues in the Faculty of Education and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at Khon Kaen University, as the universities sought to renew their Memorandum of Understanding and continue their productive partnership.

Assistant Professor Wassamill Watcharakaweesilp, Assistant to the Dean for Academic and International Affairs, and Assistant Professor Kornwipa Poonpon, Head of English, represented the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences to welcome Professor Taylor and Dr Ashton.

Areas for expanded collaboration discussed included collaborative research in English language teaching and applied linguistics, collaborative teaching activities, twinning programmes, student exchange programs and academic staff exchanges.

Professor Taylor says Massey University and Khon Kaen University have a longstanding relationship and a history of successful collaborations in the areas of applied linguistics and TESOL.

“Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Cynthia White was integral in establishing this important relationship. Before COVID-19, PhD students from Khon Kaen visited Massey University for tailored short courses in research methods in applied linguistics and Dr Ashton provides teaching on Khon Kaen’s PhD programme,” Professor Taylor says.

Massey has a number of PhD students, past and present, with links to Khon Kaen University and the visit also provided the opportunity to catch up with Faculty of Education Lecturer Dr Ong-Art Namwong, who completed his thesis defence and emendations just before the pandemic forced border closures.

Dr Namwong presented his lead supervisor Dr Ashton with a copy of his thesis during the visit.

“This development signals a promising chapter in collaborative efforts between Khon Kaen University and Massey University for mutual growth and continued partnership success, with the synergies and common interests of our two universities reaffirmed,”Professor Taylor says.