CFP: Teaching Globalisation: Developing interdisciplinary pedagogies for a
changing world.
CILT, London. 18 April 2005

Globalisation is a term in common use throughout the humanities, sciences
and social sciences. It raises social, political, cultural, economic and
environmental questions that cannot be addressed within the confines of a
single discipline.
A highly contested concept, it is argued by some theorists that the rise of
actors such as Multi-National Corporations has led to a decline of the
nation-state and the emergence of 'placelessness'. These corporations, it is
claimed, act globally without the connections to place that once existed.

The global nature of environmental concerns presents the practitioner with
the need to address connections between science and society. The alleged
globalisation (or Americanisation) of culture with the rise of 'global
English' and it subsequent threat to other languages and cultures raises
cultural questions. Ethical issues arise about the nature of democracy, and
the responsibility of nation-states, NGOs and individuals towards people in
other parts of the world.

Provision for teaching about certain parts of the world (especially East
Asia and the Middle East) is declining in UK Higher Education amid concerns
about student recruitment and financial pressures on institutions at a time
when the geopolitical concerns about these regions seem more important than
ever. On the one hand the world seems to be increasingly homogenised through
the Internet, technology and communication, yet on the other hand
geopolitical realities inform us that we live in a world of difference,
contrast and complexity.

This conference aims to address pedagogic issues surrounding the study of
global and local issues. How are these issues addressed in different
disciplines? How can practitioners draw on interdisciplinary and
multidisciplinary perspectives to enhance student understandings of
globalisation?

Possible themes for papers include interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary
approaches to the teaching and learning of:

* Global and local citizenship
* Ethics and concerns for 'distant others'
* Placelessless, the annihilation of space, the death of the local
* Global geopolitics
* Culture and language protection
* Globalisation of the English language
* Technology
* Environmental issues and science in society
* Globalisation and Area Studies

Please submit your papers to John Canning j.canning@soton.ac.uk
by Friday 11 February 2005. Travel expenses
will be reimbursed for presenters of accepted papers.
Registrations are accepted online at
http://www.lang.ltsn.ac.uk/events/llaseventitem.aspx?resourceid=2237

Dr John Canning
Academic Coordinator (Area Studies)
Modern Languages
University of Southampton
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
Tel +44 (0)23 8059 5408
Fax +44 (0)23 8059 4815
Subject Centre for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies
www.llas.ac.uk
The Subject Centre is now part of the HE Academy www.heacademy.ac.uk