English Language Education at The University of Edinburgh's Centre for Open Learning is delighted to announce that we will be hosting the BALEAP PIM on the theme of ‘The EAP Student: Identity, Community and Belonging’. We invite interested academics and teaching professionals to join us. BALEAP PIM: The EAP Student: Identity, Community, and Belonging Where: The Centre for Open Learning, University of Edinburgh Date: Saturday 15th November 2025 Time: 9:30am - 4:30pm English Language Education at the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Open Learning warmly invites you to submit a proposal to contribute to our BALEAP Professional Interest Meeting (PIM), focusing on the EAP student and themes of identity, community, and belonging. We welcome proposals which reflect on, explore, and critique the following: the ways in which academic identities emerge and re-emerge how students navigate and establish themselves in the university community what EAP practitioners do to foster a sense of belonging and to enable and empower students to enter, inhabit, contribute to, and shape their chosen academic community how students can partner with EAP practitioners in the development of our field Guidance on Themes for your Proposal The three main ideas of identity, community, and belonging may be interpreted in different ways and indeed can intersect. The following questions may provide a starting point for developing your proposal. Identity: What shapes the identity of an EAP student? We are keen to explore all areas of identity in relation to EAP students, including their positioning in the EAP classroom and the teacher’s role in fostering formation of their students’ academic identity. For example: What role does disciplinary identity play, and how does it empower students? How do educational transitions and the development of student identity formation interact? How does the role of generative AI interact with identity work and the role of teachers and students in shaping community and fostering belonging? How do previous educational backgrounds and cultural beliefs influence student identity? What theoretical frameworks can advance our understanding of this area? Community: What does community mean in the EAP context? We would love to hear reflections on how EAP classroom dynamics affect community building. For example: What can practitioners do to create a safe and harmonious learning environment? What can students themselves do to engage with their community? What barriers to community building exist for diverse cohorts, and how can we help to break these down? How do students and teachers bridge gaps between cultural beliefs, and is it necessary for community building? How do students connect to disciplinary, university, and local communities (for example public, private or third sector organisations)? Is the university community's temporary nature significant? Could there be a balance in preparing students for life beyond university? Belonging: What does belonging mean for EAP students? We invite you to consider different interpretations of belonging, such as the impact of neurodiversity, race, gender, class, and displaced person status (and how these intersect). For example: In what ways do different factors impact belonging? What is the role of practitioners in working with students to develop agency? What can practitioners do to promote empowerment for all students? What role do partnerships with EAP practitioners, co-constructed courses, and assessments play in enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion? How can we measure belonging effectively, balance student voice mechanisms, and overcome feedback fatigue? Should we assume that everyone wants to belong? Submission Proposals Abstracts for all contributions should be up to 250 words. We look forward to receiving your proposals and welcoming everyone to Edinburgh. If you have any particular questions about whether your idea for a proposal fits with the themes of the PIM, please feel free to contact the BALEAP PIM Organising Committee at baleap-pim-edinburgh@ed.ac.uk TimelineCall for Proposals: 23rd June 2025Deadline for proposals: 5th SeptemberNotification of acceptance: 19th September Proposal Formats Presentations (20 mins + 10 mins Q&A): traditional presentation, usually with slides, focused on research studies, scholarship projects, practice-based reflections, or institutional initiatives. Workshops (30 or 40 mins): workshops will typically be task-based and oriented towards maximising interactive participation. Lightning talks (5-8 minutes): Shorter presentations focused on key details, with or without slides. Poster presentations: a visual presentation in poster format summarising key findings, with a brief verbal explanation from the presenter. Plenary Speakers Shirley Tian is a third-year History and Politics student at the University of Edinburgh, currently on exchange at Sciences Po Paris. Originally from China, she has studied across China, New Zealand, and the UK, shaping her passion for international student experience, language transitions, and belonging. Shirley has worked as a tutor, mentor, and student representative at committees such as Internationalization and Global Partnerships supporting learners across age groups and cultures. Her work spans teaching, student engagement, and policy advocacy, with a focus on amplifying student voice and fostering inclusive academic communities. Plenary Speakers 2nd speaker info XX This article was published on 2025-06-16
