An array of interesting and valuable topics was explored, including the use of Generative AI in course development and delivery, the integration of gamification techniques for pedagogical purposes, and the promotion of inclusive EAP provision. UCAE was delighted to host an opening plenary talk, 'Transformative potentials for teaching with international students', by Dr Jenna Mittelmeier, Senior Lecturer in International Education, University of �������Ƶ. A further highlight was the closing panel discussion, 'Teacher professional development in times of change', hosted by UCAE Deputy Director Ruth Fordham and bringing together esteemed guest speakers from the fields of EAP and HE Pedagogy.

Building on the success of this successful day, we greatly look forward to hosting our 8th annual UCAE Conference in 2027! 

For more information, .

Decades on, observing some �������Ƶ students, it doesn’t seem like we’ve made much progress. The assumption existed then, and seems to exist today, that just because students are surrounded by people from different countries, they’ll implicitly learn how to manage exchanges, they’ll ‘figure it out’. There is little indication, though, that this is the case.

Communicating across languages and cultures is complex. It involves awareness, understanding, adaptability, a willingness and confidence to step out of our comfort zones.        

This matters because what could be a strength, can easily become a silent barrier to learning and participation. In my experience the challenges of communication often become most pronounced during groupwork, especially where there is a shared, assessed outcome.

To gain a better understanding of these communication difficulties and how we can support students to overcome them, my colleague Rachel Heasley and I worked closely with students and academics in FSE.

We observed and analysed how groups of students, who didn’t know each other, communicated when completing a task. Through student consultations we then explored our observations.

A few themes emerged:

• some students speak less, not because they lack ideas, but because they’re shy or worried about being misunderstood because of their language skills
• others take over unintentionally because silence is interpreted as agreement or disinterest
• cultural norms influence the language students choose to disagree, question or express uncertainty.

What is clear, though, is there’s a willingness to make it work. Students just don’t know how to with confidence. For most, this needs to be explicitly taught. Without it, students likely default to what feels safest – talking only with familiar peers.

With that knowledge, we created two targeted interventions: a 120-minute workshop and a 60-minute self-directed resource.

Both feature videos of �������Ƶ students sharing real-life stories – honest reflections of the awkward moments and the breakthroughs. They’re accompanied by interactive and reflective tasks, which guide students to think about their own communication styles, assumptions and strategies and reach a shared understanding of how to communicate in groups.

In semester one, we piloted these with two year-one undergraduate courses in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Department of Materials, each cohort comprising roughly 140 students.

The timing was deliberate. We didn’t want to wait until students were struggling, we wanted to address it head on, aiming to normalise the idea that communication is a skill to be worked on, it’s not something you ‘have’ or don’t. Exposing students to this early in their academic studies gives them time to hone their skills before completing higher stake group assessments in years two and three.

Student response was overwhelmingly positive with over 90% of students reporting that they would recommend the workshop or self-study resource to another student. There was a notable shift post workshop in both students’ preparedness and confidence levels, with the percentage more than doubling.

Following up with students a month on, one student shared:

Another described beginning to find their voice:

Academics noticed the difference too. Compared with previous cohorts, they reported students participating more equally and taking greater responsibility for group dynamics. They also observed a shift in tone with clearer, more respectful communication, and a greater appreciation of the challenges others might be facing. With less time spent managing group conflict and troubleshooting communication breakdowns, the ‘wins’ were obvious.

Moving forward, if we want students to communicate confidently, we need to create the conditions for that to happen. That means moving beyond assumptions, recognising that diversity alone doesn’t guarantee meaningful interaction, and it means equipping students – all students – with the skills they need to navigate difference, not avoid it.

Acknowledgements:  Thanks to Dr Katherine Harrison and Dr Barbara Waters for collaborating on the pilot and their year one undergraduate students on EARTH11300 and MATS11701 for taking part and providing valuable reflections.