Abstract:

The paper focuses on the development of the English language communicative competence of university senior managers. Today, the English language has become the main vehicle for effective interaction within the international society. Consequently, some of the Russian national research universities regard the ability to communicate in English and thus discuss different professional issues as one of the key competences. For instance, Tomsk Polytechnic University, as one of the leading research-intensive universities in Russia, is the first to introduce the system of employment according to which the ability to communicate in English is viewed as an absolute necessity for the university staff. In compliance with these requirements, new professional enhancement programmes aimed at fostering English language competence have been designed for various target groups. The paper focuses on the professional enhancement joint programme of Tomsk Polytechnic University and the University of Southampton “English for Senior Managers”, which was individually-tailored for the university top-managers. According to the programme, which comprises two stages of education (depending on the training place and specific objectives), three major competences (communicative competence, professional competence, and core competence) should be developed among the university top-managers. Upon completion of the programme, the university senior managers are able to share the results of their professional activity with international colleagues, describe university structure, functions of its divisions, its best practices as well as to deliver presentation on their professional profiles, duties and challenges. The final assessment is in the form of a project made in a field of change management which is based on the experience gained at the partner university. The project whose objective is to provide suggestions on how professional activity and management of their home University could be enhanced is to be delivered to the University Board of Tomsk Polytechnic University.

Keywords:

English language communicative competence, professional communication, English for senior managers, joint programme.