FOSTERING EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN THE ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES COURSE IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Authors

  • Andreas Ahrens Hochschule Wismar University of Applied Sciences Technology Business and Design (DE)
  • Jelena Zascerinska Centre for Education and Innovation Research (LV) http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4664-8593
  • Anastasija Aleksejeva Centre for Education and Innovation Research (LV)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17770/eid2021.1.5412

Keywords:

COVID-19 pandemic, English for Academic Purposes Course, External Perspective, Internal Perspective, International Students, Master Degree, Sustainability

Abstract

The paper aims to explore sustainability from both the external and internal perspectives underpinning the implementation of the empirical study within an English for Academic Purposes course at a Master level in the COVID-19 pandemic. The research is based on the methodology of the development of the system of the external and internal perspectives. The exploratory type of the case study was employed. The interpretive paradigm was used in the research. The observation was conducted on the 23rd August 2020. The sample was composed of the 10 international students of the Master programme “Information and Electrical Engineering” at Hochschule Wismar, Germany. The theoretical research defines the external and internal sustainability. The empirical finding is that the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the organizational aspect of the English for Academic Purposes course (timetable, classroom arrangements, group work organization). Another finding is that the implemented English for Academic Purposes course is partially sustainable and requires its dynamic equilibrium and localized robustness to be adjusted. Implications for higher education aimed at increasing both the external and internal sustainability in education imply the implementation of the combination of evaluation, namely external evaluation, mutual evaluation, and self-evaluation, jointly carried out by all the process participants.

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Published

26.05.2021

How to Cite

Ahrens, A., Zascerinska, J., & Aleksejeva, A. (2021). FOSTERING EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL SUSTAINABILITY WITHIN THE ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES COURSE IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. Education. Innovation. Diversity., 1(2), 6-15. https://doi.org/10.17770/eid2021.1.5412