Seeking supervisor collaboration in a school of sciences at a Chinese university

Abstract

This chapter provides insights into possible challenges and has the potential to contribute to discussion of the creation of institutional initiatives that promote cross-disciplinary collaboration in China and beyond. It focuses on Margaret Cargill, a veteran English for Research Publication Purposes professional (ERPP) from Australia who has been committed to teaching international publication skills to Chinese scientists. The chapter suggests that at focal university, and specifically at its School of Life Sciences where she taught a summer course, Margaret was keen to engage supervisors in providing ERPP support to develop students’ English publication skills. Content teachers indicated they would welcome collaboration but stressed institutional constraints; while for students, collaboration was seen as advantageous, and English teachers specialising in teaching English to students in a specific discipline would be a beneficial development. If language teachers seek to ‘specialise’ and connect themselves to specific disciplines/Schools, their collaboration with content teachers would perhaps become a more natural part of the process.