Please find the details of the call for papers for the forthcoming annual AULC conference
Deadline is Monday 10 November 12 Noon
Call for Papers AULC Annual Conference 2026:
Thriving in a time of unprecedented threats
Renewing Language Education for Non-Specialists in University Language Centres in the Age of Austerity and AI
Conference Dates: January 2026 8th and 9th Location: University of Oxford Language Centre and online
Submission Deadline: Monday 10 November 2025 Notification of Acceptance: Friday 28 November 2025
University Language Centres are facing extraordinary challenges: financial constraints under continuing austerity and restructurings, shifting student expectations and faculty perceptions, and the disruptive rise of generative AI. These forces are reshaping the value, accessibility, and delivery of language education on Higher Education, particularly for non-specialist learners who are increasingly restricted from taking credit-bearing language options as part of their degree. Yet these threats also present opportunities for renewal, innovation, and advocacy.
We welcome examples of good practice and research exploring how Language Centres can thrive despite austerity, embrace shifts in technologies responsibly, and sustain meaningful, inclusive language learning opportunities for all learners. We encourage a wide range of contributions, from conceptual frameworks to practical case studies, focusing on (but not limited to) the following themes:
· Policy and advocacy: making the case for non-specialist language education in the age of austerity and AI.
· AI and pedagogy: critical engagement with emerging tools and their impact on learning, teaching, and assessment.
· Sustainability and resilience: innovative models for funding, staffing, and programme design.
· Renewing curricula for non-specialists: certification, assessment, and quality assurance.
· Global perspectives: learning from international responses to shared challenges.
· The role of language centres in promoting employability, intercultural competence, and global citizenship.
We invite proposals for:
· Individual Presentations: 20-minute talks (plus 5 minutes for discussion)
· Panel Discussions: 90-minute sessions with 4–5 presenters
· Workshops: 60-minute interactive sessions focusing on practical applications or teaching demonstrations
Please submit an abstract in English (300 words) describing your proposed presentation, panel, or workshop. Submissions should include:
· Title of your paper or workshop
· A brief description of the content, objectives and methodology
· A statement on how your work connects to the conference themes
If you are planning to present in one or more languages other than English please provide details of how you plan to make your presentation accessible to others. I am attaching tips created by Adolfo Sanchez Cuadrado for the API forum as a guidance.tips to make presentations more plurilingual.pdf