Speaking from the Heart of the University. The Future Role of Writing Centres: Communicating Legal, Ethical and Practical Foundations of Academic Writing from “Third Space”
Type
conference contribution
Date Issued
2024-06-12
Author(s)
Abstract
The status and affiliation of academic writing centres varies significantly in
European higher education. Some centres are temporary projects, some are attached to a language centre, others to institutes or departments, and others even to university libraries or administra-tions. Of course, its affiliation strongly shapes an academic writing centre’s self-image and its services. In many cases, these
centres are located in a “third space as an emergent territory between academic and professional domain” (Whitchurch, 2008). They are often staffed with
“blended professionals, who have mixed backgrounds and portfolios, comprising elements of both professional and academic activity” (Whitchurch, 2008). Occupying a “third space”—between university administrations and faculty—
offers academic writing centres considerable opportunities. These include establishing them-selves as expert institutions for all university stakeholders and supporting students in attaining generic, transdisciplinary learning objectives for which individual disciplines often lack the time and resources. As “third spaces,”
writing centres can convey basic knowledge about academic writing and research, as well as the legal and ethical foundations of science. The rise and proliferation of AI tools, which are trans-forming academic research and writing at lightning speed, highlights the crucial role of writing centres as the custodians of academic integrity.
This workshop will discuss the role of writing centres as “third spaces” in 21st-century higher education. It aims to develop strategies for communicating the constantly evolving legal and ethi-cal foundations of academic writing and thereby to strengthen the position and legitimacy of writing centres.
European higher education. Some centres are temporary projects, some are attached to a language centre, others to institutes or departments, and others even to university libraries or administra-tions. Of course, its affiliation strongly shapes an academic writing centre’s self-image and its services. In many cases, these
centres are located in a “third space as an emergent territory between academic and professional domain” (Whitchurch, 2008). They are often staffed with
“blended professionals, who have mixed backgrounds and portfolios, comprising elements of both professional and academic activity” (Whitchurch, 2008). Occupying a “third space”—between university administrations and faculty—
offers academic writing centres considerable opportunities. These include establishing them-selves as expert institutions for all university stakeholders and supporting students in attaining generic, transdisciplinary learning objectives for which individual disciplines often lack the time and resources. As “third spaces,”
writing centres can convey basic knowledge about academic writing and research, as well as the legal and ethical foundations of science. The rise and proliferation of AI tools, which are trans-forming academic research and writing at lightning speed, highlights the crucial role of writing centres as the custodians of academic integrity.
This workshop will discuss the role of writing centres as “third spaces” in 21st-century higher education. It aims to develop strategies for communicating the constantly evolving legal and ethi-cal foundations of academic writing and thereby to strengthen the position and legitimacy of writing centres.
Language
English
Keywords
Academic Writing Centers
Legal foundations of academic writing
academic writing ethics
HSG Classification
contribution to education
Refereed
Yes
Event Title
EWCA European Writing Center Association Conterence
Event Location
Limerick
Event Date
11.06.2024- 15.06.2024
Official URL
Additional Information
https://europeanwritingcenters.eu/conference