EdUHK Hosts Landmark 23rd AsiaTEFL International Conference on Care, Innovation and Sustainability in English Language Teaching
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) hosted the 23rd AsiaTEFL International Conference on its Tai Po campus between 10 and 13 July. The theme was ‘Care, Innovation, and Sustainability in ELT’. The conference attracted over 1,000 participants, comprising students, teaching professionals, researchers and policymakers from 43 regions. It was the first time Hong Kong SAR had played host in this prestigious event’s 23-year history.
Distinguished guests featured in the opening ceremony were Dr Christine Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary of Education of the HKSAR Government, Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, President of EdUHK; Dr Isaiah WonHo Yoo (from Korea) and Dr Pragasit Sitthitikul (from Thailand), Presidents of AsiaTEFL; and Conference Co-chairs Dr Lee Ju Seong and Professor Angel Lin Mei-yi from EdUHK.
“The AsiaTEFL international conference provides an important opportunity in Hong Kong for educators, researchers, academics, curriculum developers and their trainers to engage in meaningful discussion and cross-cultural exchange regarding innovative and sustainable practices in English language education,” Dr Choi said in her opening speech. She also commended EdUHK’s contribution in hosting the conference, which fostered professional collaboration in English language education.
In his speech, EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin spoke of how the conference marked a historic milestone, and that it was a significant gathering of English language teaching professionals from across the globe. On behalf of EdUHK, he welcomed all the attendees and said, “As we embark on this four-day journey of knowledge exchange and professional networking, I hope you find inspiration in both our academic discussions and Hong Kong's unique energy. Together, let us shape a future for ELT that embodies care, innovation and sustainability.”
Dr Isaiah WonHo Yoo and Dr Pragasit Sitthitikul shared AsiaTEFL’s vision that the conference would offer more than just an exchange of ideas. They expressed their wish that it become a space for reflection, connection and renewed purpose. They also hoped to explore what it means to teach and lead with care in the age of algorithms, to innovate, not for novelty’s sake, but for learners’ growth, and to imagine sustainable futures for classrooms, institutions and the field.”
Conference Co-chairs Dr Lee Ju Seong and Professor Angel Lin Mei-yi noted that in the face of global challenges, from technological shifts to social inequalities, the conference provided a timely platform for educators, researchers, and practitioners to explore new pathways for sustainable growth in the field. The programme featured a rich array of keynote talks, academic presentations and interactive sessions, reflecting the collective commitment to educational transformation grounded in care and innovation.
The four-day conference offered participants an array of academic programmes and exchanges, including a keynote speech, seven plenary sessions, six featured talks, 568 paper presentations, 35 hands-on workshops, 22 multimodal poster displays, and nine symposiums. These sessions covered cutting-edge topics in English language teaching and research, including digital literacies and language-learning technology, innovative pedagogy, equity and learner diversity, teacher education and professional development, and world Englishes and English as a lingua franca.
Among seven plenary speeches, EdUHK Dean of Graduate School and Professor of Sociolinguistics Professor Michelle Gu Mingyue spoke on ‘Searching for multiple selves: Digital trans-literacies, identity and linguistic inclusivity in education’. In her speech, she discussed how translanguaging fosters creative identity exploration and enhances subjective well-being (life satisfaction, positive effect), while also posing challenges to social and cultural capital, due to the fragmented nature of online interactions.
Beyond academic sessions, the conference facilitated valuable networking through publisher exhibitions showcasing the latest ELT resources, national chapter meetings, and mentorship sessions for early-career researchers.
Embracing the conference theme of sustainability, a range of eco-conscious practices were integrated throughout the event. Participants received seed paper badges that could be planted after the conference – an engaging way to promote environmental awareness. Each attendee was also given a reusable tumbler, which they refilled at EdUHK’s water stations, eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles. Card holders were provided to reduce waste, and poster presenters used their own devices to display digital posters, significantly cutting down on paper consumption. The conference handbook was offered exclusively online, avoiding printed copies altogether. These initiatives demonstrated how sustainability can be seamlessly woven into large-scale academic gatherings without compromising quality or impact.
EdUHK further reinforced its position as a global leader in language education through hosting the conference. AsiaTEFL, in turn, continues to advance its mission of promoting excellence in English language teaching across Asia through such high-quality professional gatherings.
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EdUHK Hosts Landmark 23rd AsiaTEFL International Conference on Care, Innovation and Sustainability in English Language Teaching
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