INAUGURAL CONFERENCE - Talking Across the World

[Conference EG]

INAUGURAL CONFERENCE

“TALKING ACROSS THE WORLD”

English Communication Skills for the ITES Industry

February 24th (Friday) and 25th (Saturday) 2006

MANILA, Philippines

http://www.engl.polyu.edu.hk/conference/

 

The Information Technology Enabled Services - ITES - Industry is the 
fastest growing user of English language training in the world. The two 
major destinations for outsourced processing and call centres are India 
and the Philippines, with China becoming ever more important. It is thus 
timely to hold the inaugural ITES English Skills Conference in Manila.

 

This conference will bring together ITES industry practitioners in 
outsourcing destinations in Asia with international English language 
teachers and applied linguistic academics and researchers. At this 
conference we hope to generate new ideas, cross disciplinary boundaries, 
and share research and practice about English language in all areas of the 
ITES industry. It will be a unique opportunity for academics and business 
to share experience and learn from each other.

 

Specifically, this conference will address the following language issues 
which are critical for ensuring appropriate English language skills in non-
English speaking countries.

 

How do we make English language training relevant for companies and 
participants in the call centre and ITES industries? 
What is the value of English language communication for a company? 
How do we measure English language skill levels accurately for recruitment 
and training needs? 
What are the issues in developing Quality scorecards that reflect quality 
targets, communication needs and training agendas? 
What is an industry language audit? 
What are the current best practices in English language communication, 
assessment and training, and trainer education for the ITES Industry?
 

The opening speech will be delivered by Mr. Bong Borja, Chairman of the 
Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP). 

 

Key speakers will include:

Neil Elias, President, AIG Business Processing Service Inc, Philippines 
Title: Overview of the industry and setting the agenda for the language 
communication needs within the industry
 
Tony Bruno, Director, Limebridge (HK) Limited, Hong Kong 
Title: Commercial and operational dynamics in contact centres, and their 
implication on communication
 
 Simon Kriss, President & CEO, Sagatori, Hong Kong 
Title: Strategic Advantage - what the Board Level is expecting from the 
call centre channel
 
Dr Jane Lockwood and Dr Gail Forey, Hong Kong Institute of Education and 
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong 
Title: Language research directions and possibilities: How can it help?
 

Papers from academics and industry practitioners will cover the following 
sectors:

 

Call centre operations and communication

ITES English Curriculum

ITES English Assessment

Trainer/coach education and support

Applied linguistics

Discourse analysis

Communication studies

Intercultural / cross-cultural communication

Organisational communication

Quality assurance measurement

 

Please see enclosed registration and call for papers/speakers forms. The 
submission deadline is 15 January 2006. All registration fees must be paid 
by this date. Should payment not be received, your name will be removed 
from the programme.

 

Details of Venue & Accommodation:

The conference venue is AIM. For accommodation please contact AIM 
directly. They offer rooms at a reasonable rate:

Asian Institute of Management Conference Centre
Benavidez cor. Trasierra Streets, Legaspi Village, Makati City, 1260 
Philippines 

E-mail Address: accm at aimonline.org
Telephone No.: (632) 750-1010

http://www.accm.aim.edu.ph/

 

For further details, please contact:

 

Joanne Lee

Talking Across The World Conference

Department of English

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hung Hom

Kowloon

Hong Kong

 

Tel. +852 2766 4916

egconf at inet.polyu.edu.hk

or our the conference website:

http://www.engl.polyu.edu.hk/conference/

 

 

*Please pass this message on to anyone you know who may be interested.