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Description
The aim of the project, which features a 5-day study visit, is to gain familiarity with the functioning of the Academic Writing Center at the University of Oslo. In many countries, academic writing centers are an important element of language education and facilitate the development of students'' writing skills and the development of the scholarly competence of faculty members. However, in Poland this model is, unfortunately, little known. There is no such centre at the Jagiellonian University, but there is a great demand for supporting the development of writing skills in English. In order to create this type of center, it is necessary to acquire appropriate skills. In this respect, information on the functioning of already operating and reputable centers is extremely helpful.The most important issues are funding mechanisms, the type of resources offered to students and staff, how to integrate the center with the library''s resources, the type and scope of training offered to students / staff, and ways to verify the effectiveness of the counseling offered.
The purpose of the visit is to facilitate the professional development of faculty members of the Jagiellonian University, which will enable them to plan for the implementation of an academic writing center, operating as part of the Practical English Language Lab at the Institute of English Studies of the Jagiellonian University. Once such a component is successfully introduced into the Lab, plans can be made for the further development of this center, which could ultimately operate at the inter-departmental level. The aim of the project is to improve management skills in the education sector and to ensure full access to the resources of the center for academic staff and students, with particular emphasis on the needs of disabled people and ensuring equal opportunities for men and women.
Summary of project results
The goal of the project is to learn about the functioning of an academic writing center at the University of Oslo. In many countries, such centers are an important part of language education and facilitate the development of students'' writing skills and the academic development of staff, while in Poland this model is unfortunately little known. In order to set up this type of center within the Jagiellonian University, it is necessary to acquire the appropriate skills, in which information on how already operating, reputable centers operate is extremely helpful. The most important issues are funding mechanisms, the type of resources offered to students and staff, how to integrate the center with library resources, the type and scope of training offered to students and staff, and how to verify the effectiveness of the counseling offered. The purpose of the study visit itself was to obtain the information needed to design an academic writing center, which will operate as part of the Practical English Language Workshop (PNJA) at the Jagiellonian University. The project''s implementation involved a three-person study visit to Oslo. The methodology of the activities included: questionnaire research on the specific needs for the development of writing skills among students; familiarization with the way the Academic Writing Center in Oslo operates; activities to promote the project; development of a mission and plan for the creation of an academic writing center at the PNJA Workshop at IFA (taking into account the methods developed in Oslo, as well as the specific needs of IFA UJ students and the organizational and administrative specifics of UJ); consultations with the authorities of the Institute and Faculty and the Faculty Library. The goals of the project were fully realized. The participants managed to expand their original plans with a valuable visit to Oslo Met University, which also has a center similar to the Academic Writing Center at UiO.
Summary of bilateral results
The planned further cooperation with the Norwegian Host Institution involves the exchange of information and experience in the area of developing a support system for students and junior faculty in the field of academic writing in English.