A strong signal for English-Medium-Education
On 6 and 7 February 2026, the Institute of Software Design and Security at FH JOANNEUM (represented by Petra Kletzenbauer) and the University of Graz (represented by Dr. Ulla Fürstenberg) hosted the DACH Regional Meeting of the ICLHE Association. This timely conference demonstrated the lively, diverse and forward-looking nature of the debate on English-Medium Education (EME) in German-speaking higher education today. Over the course of two days, researchers and educators from Germany, Austria and Switzerland came together to share experiences, ask questions and develop new perspectives on language (learning) in higher education.
Language as part of the discipline – not just as a medium
One of the key conclusions of the meeting was that, in the context of international higher education, language serves many purposes beyond simply conveying content. Numerous discussions made it clear that subject-specific learning and linguistic development are inextricably linked, regardless of the subject taught or the institutional framework.
This perspective was particularly evident in the keynote speech delivered by Prof. Dr. Ute Smit (University of Vienna). Under the title “Exploring Multilingual Literacies in International Higher Education: Insights from Different Disciplines’, Prof. Dr. Smit demonstrated how academic literacies manifest differently in various subjects and highlighted the potential of a conscious approach to multilingualism. Her presentation provided participants with new theoretical insights and numerous points of reference for their own teaching practice.
Voices from teaching: Content teachers in dialogue
Another focus of the conference was the experiences of university lecturers who teach their subjects in English. During open, dialogue-oriented sessions, participants reflected on their academic backgrounds, their motivations for teaching in English and the specific challenges they encounter in their day-to-day work.
Among other things, they discussed:
- the advantages and limitations of EME;
- their own understanding of the role of language in their subject;
- the extent to which language is considered part of their discipline;
- the need for institutional support and interdisciplinary cooperation.
There was a clear desire for closer cooperation between subject teachers and language experts in both teaching and research. All participants agreed that sustainable EME concepts arise where expertise is shared and developed jointly.
A final round of lightning talks made it clear that when it comes to ‘teaching in English’, teachers move along a continuum between the conscious didactic use of English and casual language learning, as well as those ‘in-between spaces’ where subject-specific learning and language learning occur simultaneously, often in an unplanned but effective manner.
After two busy days of making new contacts, sharing ideas, and exploring new research approaches, the Regional Meeting came to a close – but at the same time formed the starting point for further collaboration. After all, the discussion about language, subject matter and learning in international higher education is ongoing. It will continue in teaching, in joint projects, and at the next reunion of the ICLHE community of the DACH region.
