IMPROVING RESEARCH QUALITY THROUGH NETWORKING STUDY PROGRAMS OF LANGUAGE TEACHING IN ASEAN UNIVERSITIES

IMPROVING RESEARCH QUALITY THROUGH

NETWORKING STUDY PROGRAMS OF LANGUAGE TEACHING

IN ASEAN UNIVERSITIES

In recent decades, Quality Assurance (QA) movements in higher education have been in evidence in line with intensifying globalization. As far as the author knows, database about theses, research grants and contracts that have been conducted are not available in most universities in Indonesia. This condition raises some problems, i.e. (1) the difficulties in detecting whether certain research has been conducted or not at any institution, (2) the tendency of plagiarism, and (3) the difficulties in advancing science and technology due to the failure to consults the previous studies which have been poorly documented. Glancing at AUN-QA Criterion dealing with university research policy, “The university has a clear research policy, setting the direction of research and deciding about research profile and research activities, this article aims at designing strategic plans that cover mapping and planning thesis, projecting net-working between universities which focuses on Study Programs of Language Teaching in Asean Universities.
Glancing at AUN-QA Criterion dealing with university research policy, “The university has a clear research policy, setting the direction of research and deciding about research profile and research activities”, this article aims at designing strategic plans that cover mapping and planning research, projecting net-working between universities which focuses on Study Program of Language Teaching in Asean Universities and example for join research program. As background, the author deliver AUN-QA, Research and Services and Network-Based Language Teaching.
The ASEAN Universities Network Quality Research (AUN-QA)
The ASEAN University Network (AUN) is an Asian University association. It was founded in November 1995 by ASEAN member countries including 13 universities. After the enlargement of ASEAN by the ASEAN Charter in 1997 and 1999, the AUN membership has been increasing. As of 31 July 2013, the AUN membership increased to 30 Member Universities.
Currently, AUN is composed of 30 universities across 10 ASEAN countries:

Brunei -          Universiti Brunei Darussalam (Bandar Seri Begawan) Cambodia -          Royal University of Phnom Penh (Phnom Penh) -          Royal University of Law and Economics (Phnom Penh) Indonesia -          Universitas Indonesia (Jakarta) -          Universitas Gadjah Mada (Jogjakarta) -          Universitas Teknologi Bandung (Bandung) -          Universitas Airlangga (Surabaya) Laos -          National University of Laos (Vientiane) Malaysia -          Universiti Malaya (Kuala Lumpur) -          Universiti Sains Malaysia (Gelugor, Penang) -          Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Bangi, Selangor) -          Universiti Utara Malaysia (Sintok, Kedah) -          Universiti Putra Malaysia (Serdang, Selangor) Myanmar -          University of Yangon (Yangon) -          University of Mandalay (Mandalay) -          Yangon Institute of Economics (Yangon)

Philippines -          Ateneo de Manila University (Quezon City) -          De La Salle University (Manila) -          University of the Philippines (Quezon City) Singapore -          National University of Singapore -          Nanyang Technological University -          Singapore Management University Thailand -          Burapha University (Chonburi) -          Chulalongkorn University (Bangkok) -          Mahidol University (Nakhon Pathom) -          Chiang Mai University (Chiang Mai) -          Prince of Songkla University (Songkla) Vietnam -          Vietnam National University, Hanoi (Hanoi) -          Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (Ho Chi Minh City) -          Can Tho University (Can Tho)

Research and Services
As stated in Guidelines of AUN-QA, The University should established, implement, and ensure uniform compliance with the university-wide research policies to main the integrity of the university, protect the safety and welfare of employees and experimental subject and ensure compliance with all other regulations governing the research process. The organization of research and development activities is usually based on the research governance. Below are the main function of the University Research Council and The University Research Policy.
The main function of the University Research Council is:

1. To set out the direction of research policy
2. To review policy in the management of research
3. To monitor progress of research
4. To promote research in strategies and critical fields
5. To develop strategy for expansion of research activities

The University Research Policy
In general, the University Research Policy covers the following:

1. Mission statement
2. Guiding principles
3. Research governance – membership and terms of reference
4. Academic policies, academic freedom, and research
5. Objectivity in research policy
6. Research approval process
7. Research ethics
8. Sponsored projects and sponsored research services
9. Policy regarding consulting
10. Policy regarding undergraduate and graduate research
11. Policy on integrity in research
12. Research supervision and research risk compliance
13. Data handling, retention, and access
14. Publications and authorship
15. Conflicts of interest, conflict of commitment, and research misconduct
16. Technology transfer and intellectual property
17. Policy on environmental health and safety
18. Research collaboration and memoranda of understanding
19. Research development fund policy
20. Policy on protection of human subject in research
21. Policy on the use of animals in research
22. Non-faculty research appointments
23. Campus support services and facilities
24. Research quality and research assessment

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASEAN_University_Network).
Network-Based Language Teaching
Over the past thirty years language teachers have witnessed dramatic changes in the ways that languages are taught. The focus of instruction has broadened from the teaching of discrete grammatical structures to the fostering of communicative ability. Creative self-expression has come to take precedence over structural drill practice. Comprehension has taken on new importance, and providing comprehensible input has become a common pedagogical imperative. Culture has received renewed interest and emphasis, even if many teachers remain unsure how best to teach it. Language textbooks have begun to distinguish spoken and written language forms, and commonly incorporate authentic texts (such as advertisements and realia) alongside literary texts. It is in the context of these multifarious changes that one of the most significant areas of innovation in language education-computer-assisted language learning (CALL)÷ has come of age. Nowadays, audiotape-based language labs are gradually being replaced by language media centers, where language learners can Wide Web, and communicate with their teachers, fellow classmates, and native speakers by electronic mail. If language teaching has become more exciting, it has also become consider-ably more complex (Kern, R. & Warschauer, M. 2000)

Mapping and Planning
As far as the author knows, database about theses, research and contracts that have been conducted are not available in most universities in Indonesia. This condition raises some problems, i.e. (1) the difficulties in detecting whether certain research has been conducted or not at any institution, (2) the tendency of plagiarism, and (3) the difficulties in advancing science and technology due to the failure to consult the previous studies which have been poorly documented (Murtadho 2006).
Glancing at AUN-QA Criterion dealing with university research policy. “The University has a clear research policy, setting the direction of research and deciding about research profile and research activities, this article aims at designing strategic plans that cover mapping and planning thesis, projecting net-working between universities which focuses on Study Programs of Language Teaching in Asean Universities. Planning should be conducted on the basis of (1) the mapping of theses, research grants and contracts, (2) the database on the community needs in education for all levels, and (3) the database on journals and each five years for long terms, so that these as well as research grants are more relevant to the community needs.
Net-working between universities can be implemented in two version, one that include all study programs in universities and another one that concerns a certain study program. The former can be implemented as projecting Dissertation Information Services shared by a group of universities that contain (1) humanities and social sciences: communications and the arts; education; language, literature and linguistics; philosophy, religion and theology; social sciences; and (2) the sciences and engineering: biological sciences; earth sciences; health and environmental sciences; physical sciences and psychology. The latter, net-working between certain programs, let say The Study Program of language teaching between universities which have the same study program (Murtadho 2006).
Example for Join Research Progam
As an example, the author deliver below HERA – Humanities in the European Research Area and SEAMEO QITEP in Language Research Grants (SEAQIL REGRANTS) 2014 that can be conducted as join research program.
HERA – Humanities in the European Research Area
HERA – Humanities in the European Research Area – is a partnership between 21 Humanities Research Councils across Europe and the European Science Foundation (ESF) with the objective of firmly establishing the humanities in the European Research Area and in the European Commission Framework Programmes.
The humanities are crucial to the understanding and conceptualizing of fundamental changes in contemporary European society. Linking national programmes and launching joint research programmes dealing with all-encompassing social, cultural, political and ethical developments will generate new knowledge and enable policy-makers, scientists and the general public to interpret the challenges of a changing world. HERA aims to set new and innovative research agendas and thus enhance the humanities contribution to the European Research Area as well as to the ongoing debates on issues of particular relevance to European society.
HERA JRP III
Prof Sean Ryder announces HERA plan for a new joint research programme at Achieving Impact Conference. Live feed at http://www.achievingimpact2014.eu Researchers should expert to hear more of the proposed call over the late summer to autumn and can monitor the HERA website and follow HERA on twitter for updates. Please also refer to the HERA website for information on the previous call processes and currently funded projects.
2013-2016 HERA JRP II
HERA Joint Research Programme 2012 – “Cultural Encounters”
Download the HERA JRP Launch brochure

2010-2013 HERA JRP I
HERA Joint Research Programme 2009 – “Cultural Dynamics: Inheritance and Identity” and “Humanities as a Source of Creativity and Innovation”

SEAMEO QITEP in Language Research Grants (SEAQIL REGRANTS) 2014 Application Form


Date:                          2014

Name of research fellow (family name, first name)		Date of Birth (M/D/Y)	Gender	Nationality
Organization & position
Address of organization	Tel.: Fax: Website URL :
Home address	Tel.: Fax: Mobile: E-mail:
Contact person*		Relationship to research fellow
Contact address (for correspondence)	Tel.: Fax: Mobile: E-mail:

^*The contact person can be the research fellow. All correspondence will be sent to the contact address.

If you have previously received a grant from other institutions/foundations/ organizations, please check the box at the right
Type of research (Please check the appropriate box)				Individual		Joint
Project length (Please check the appropriate box)			Months	1 Year		>1 Year
Project title (The title should be concise and describe the nature of yours research proposal in 40 words or less
Issues to be addressed (Please check the box to the right of the issue that most closely corresponds to your project).
1.     Second/foreign language		2.     Teaching media in second/foreign language		3.Second/foreign language testing and assessment		4. Other
Project outline (Please provide a clear and concise summary of your research proposal in 150 words or less

1. Participating researcher(s) (Please write the name of research fellow followed by his/her members)

Name	Age	Major/specialization	Role in the project

1. Professional history and publications of research fellow and his/her members

1. Blueprint of project structure (Please concisely list points in each of the following sections)

Problem statement and its importance. What are the issues addressed by this project?

Theoretical or conceptual framework and brief review of relevant research literature.What theoretical or conceptual framework and brief review of relevant research literature will be described under this project?

Description of methodology and techniques of data analysis. What are the description of methodology and techniques of data analysis?

1. Language educational significance (Please provide details on the project’s educational significance)

1. Current references (Please provide the used current references in this research project)

1. Dissemination (Please provide brief plan of dissemination for this research project)

1. Research project timeline

Month	Activities

1. Research project budget (Please write the details of the amounts of money spent)

No	Item	Details	Amount (Rp)
		Total	(Rp)

1. About the core organization

Name and year established: Past grant publications (domestic and international) Size (scale of financing, number of personnel, etc)

I declare I will comply with the SEAMEO QITEP in Language Research Grants 2014 for fellowship holder(s).
Date :                    _____________________________________
Name:                  _____________________________________
Signature             _____________________________________
If done in team of more than one person, fill in the blank spaces below:
Name:                  _____________________________________
Signature             _____________________________________

Name:                  _____________________________________
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References

Asean University Network Quality – Assurance.Guidelines.http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ASEAN_University_Network.
Kern, R. & Warschauer, M. (2000). Theory and practice of network-based language teaching. In   M. Warschauer & R. Kern (Eds), Network-based language teaching: Concepts and practice. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Murtadho, Nurul. 2006. “Improving These Quality Through Infrastructure and Services” a paper presented in The 9^th International Conference on Quality in Research (QiR). University of Indonesia, 6-7 September 2006.
SEAMEO QITEP in Language Research Grants (SEAQIL REGRANTS) 2014
Source: Beerkens, H.J.J.G. (2004) Global Opportunities and Institutional Embeddedness; Higher Education Consortia in Europe and Southeast Asia (PhD Dissertation). Enschede: Cheps/UT.Available at http://www.beerkens.info/ files/phd.pdf.