The FIESOLE Group

A short history

The FIESOLE Group came into being hand in hand with the opening of the Max Weber Programme in September 2006, when a group of applied linguists, educationalists and language professionals from various higher education institutions in Europe met to brainstorm ideas about how to give concrete support to the first cohort of Max Weber Fellows. Since then, the focus of the Group’s activities has widened to include a concern with developing and disseminating best practices in the field of academic communication, with particular reference to the needs of doctoral and post-doctoral researchers and junior faculty in today’s multilingual Europe.

Members

In addition to the members of the EUI Unit for English for Academic Communication and Professional Development, members of the group include faculty and language professionals from various higher education institutions across Europe. For a list of FIESOLE Group contacts go to FIESOLE Group members and their home institutions. 

 Activities

By collaborating through face-to-face interaction, teaching exchanges and e-platforms, the group develops teaching materials, methodologies, and curricular guidelines particularly suited to multilingual settings in which English functions as an academic lingua franca. Areas of particular expertise include teaching and learning in university classrooms (with particular attention to issues of cultural diversity), academic literacy, writing for publication and para-academic communication.

The FIESOLE Group and the Max Weber Programme

Currently, the FIESOLE Group contributes to a strategic and transnational approach to professional development within the Max Weber Programme in the following areas

•  Academic Practice Workshops: designed to enhance Fellows' knowledge and skills in key areas of academic practice
• Teaching Certificate: designed to help Fellows respond flexibly and professionally to teaching and learning needs in higher education
• Teaching Practice weeks: Fellows have the opportunity to teach in situ in London, Barcelona or Berlin, under the professional guidance of both home and host institutions
• Academic Communication Skills: the locally-based members provide training and support to the Fellows throughout the year