Research-Led Learning and Critical Thinking: Principles and Practices of English for Academic Purposes

This presentation aims to present innovative curriculum design principles and practices for higher education based on the Research-Led Learning with a focus on cultivating mindsets that can thrive in the Uncertain, Ambiguous, Changeable, and Complex (UACC) world shaped by the digital revolution and the explosion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to achieve excellence in multi-disciplinary research and industry innovation. Firstly, by integrating theoretical insights with practical applications, this presentation seeks to demonstrate a robust framework (HeXie Educational Model), that addresses the evolving educational needs and prepares students for the challenges and opportunities of the modern era. In addition, key principles and practices in teaching critical thinking, which is defined as “the evaluation of the minds in order to achieve clarity and accuracy in our THOUGHTS, rationality in our BELIEFS, justification for our ACTIONS and genuine depth in our UNDERSTANDING of the self and the world to become intellectually mature and mindful beings” (Xi and Li, 2023) will also be shared based on empirical pedagogical experiences in “research-led learning and teaching”. Moreover, Relevant cases studies, pedagogical theories, neuron/cognitive concepts will be demonstrated to show how critical thinking can be taught effectively in and across various academic modules like business, science, engineering, humanities field, etc. Furthermore, the presentation will show the relationship between critical thinking, cognition, creativity, and writing from unique linguistic/ Eastern and Western philosophical perspectives (Xi and Li, 2021). Overall, this presentation will be relevant to any teachers and scholars who are interested in understanding how thinking can be taught to shape creative minds.
Key words:
Key concepts will be presented including “critical thinking”, “research-led learning”, “HeXie Educational Model”, “creativity”, “logic”, “HeXie mindset”, “multi-disciplinary research”, “reasoning”, “Artificial Intelligence”, “self and the world”, “Chinese philosophy”.
Reference:
Xi, Y., Li, C. (2021) Research-Led Learning and Critical Thinking-EAP Practice. Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
Xi, Y. & Li, C. (2023). Envisioning and Exploring Future Transnational Higher Education and Management Models: The Transformation of Higher Education in the UACC World. In G. Morris & L. Li (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Developments and Future Trends in Transnational Higher Education (pp. 397-424). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-5226-4.ch021