Abstract:

The paper focuses on the technology of language training courses design aimed for research and teaching staff professional development at National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU). The technology has been developed and piloted at TPU and its features peculiar to national research university environment and development goals are discussed. The cycle of the courses design stages incorporates traditional didactic components such as needs analysis, formulating course objectives and intended learning outcomes, as well as specifying the assessment objectives, criteria, indicators, methods and course evaluation policy. Teaching methods and educational technologies and tools are discussed in accordance with each course objectives and content. It is argued that depending on the courses target group the tools and content of the course design cycle may vary to ensure the measurable results that the university as a main stakeholder establishes for achievement for the course participants. It is also argued that growing role of Russian universities internationalisation greatly influences the content and goals of tailored courses for university staff. The focus is made on learning outcomes which should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based and in compliance with the university programme for development (roadmap). TPU experience and achieved learning outcomes of the courses participants are discussed as well as the synergetic measurable effect the training leads to. The study results are based on the more than 15 years’ experience in the field of language training for TPU research and teaching staff, accumulating course participants’ statistics and data driven from performed questionnaires and feedback analysis. The presented technology has resulted in reengineering the system of TPU language training courses and increased number of research and teaching staff using English as foreign language for professional purposes. The paper also discusses the transfer of the technology of training courses development to other national research universities in Russia.

Keywords:

National research university, research and teaching staff, language training courses, courses design cycle and technology, measurable learning outcomes.