Learning from Coventry

Report from European Association for Teaching of Academic Writing
conference, July 2009 - reflections from Mark Simpson and Claus Adam Jarløv 

Having returned to the Copenhagen offices of our independent communication consultancy (GlobalDenmark), and after being thoroughly inspired by old and (mostly) new acquaintances at Coventry, we'd like to share a few reflections on the aims of EATAW and our first visit to an EATAW conference.

Of course, it was the people we met, listened to and talked with that made the greatest impression on us - fulfilling EATAW's aim of connecting teachers (like ourselves) and scholars of academic writing. We took part in many fruitful discussions and experienced a measure of "family belonging". The conference was extremely useful as a means of expanding our international network.

We also exchanged diverse experience and know-how about academic writing teaching. On the positive side, we heard about many research findings that correspond with what and how we teach at GlobalDenmark. Issues we found particularly interesting included how writing cultures vary from country to country, the use of peer assessment for feedback, and writing as a social practice. We were greatly stimulated by how differently academic writing was taught and learned.

Logistically, we saw the conference as nothing less than a masterpiece!

Concerns
At GlobalDenmark, we have always regarded writing development as being integrated into rather than isolated from our customers' scientific subjects. In contrast, at Coventry we often heard how some academic writing teachers regarded their field of expertise as somewhat detached from their writers' disciplines. Others voiced concerns that other disciplines did not always recognise writing development as an integral and essential part of all academic disciplines, which implied that some academic writing instructors saw themselves as somewhat isolated from the rest of the university world. At the conference we noted a sense of "us" and "them", "us" being writing scholars and teachers and "them" (couched at times in somewhat negative terms) being the "customers", i.e. the other stakeholders in academic writing: politicians, university departments, supervisors, students, researchers, companies and the general public.

Turning "us" and "them" into stakeholders with common goals
The "us" and "them" issue is natural and important: it generates a sense of security across languages and cultures, a kind of mutual tacit understanding. However, creating a negatively valued image of "them", especially in the context of a conference, may also be detrimental to the future of academic writing development. We risk being blind to potential openings for dialogue with other stakeholders and decision makers on how science is to be communicated and developed through writing.

Such a dialogue could have taken place at EATAW 2009, though to our knowledge it only actually occurred on a limited scale. The conference was a showpiece for professionalism in writing development, where an impressive array of writing development professionals from around the world inspired one another. However, on returning from the conference, we felt that some potential members of the family were missing - the other key stakeholders in academic writing.

What is a great asset in the EATAW setting is also what we suggest be challenged. Rather than consolidating the "family atmosphere" of scholars of writing development, it would be stimulating to involve some of these other key stakeholders: politicians, decision makers at universities, representatives from industry, researchers and students. In this way it will be possible to build "the relevance bridge" between writing development and the purpose it is intended to serve. We can find common goals and inspiration if we work together as stakeholders.

All in all the conference was inspiring, thought-provoking and enjoyable. Thanks to all who contributed to making it so - we look forward to seeing many of you again (and hopefully some other stakeholders!) at the next EATAW conference.

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