Bengkulu, August 22, 2026 — The Master’s Program in English Language Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Bengkulu, successfully held an International Guest Lecture featuring Dr. Tanya Kwee from UNSW Sydney, Australia, on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Conducted virtually via Zoom, the event attracted approximately 80 participants, including lecturers, students, alumni, stakeholders, and English language teaching practitioners.
Carrying the theme “Teacher Professional Development for Culturally Responsive English Language Teaching,” the guest lecture was organized as part of the study program’s efforts to strengthen international academic engagement and promote culturally responsive perspectives in English language education.
The event was officially opened by Dr. Iis Sujarwati, M.Pd., Head of the Master’s Program in English Language Education, University of Bengkulu. In her opening remarks, she welcomed Dr. Tanya Kwee and all participants and highlighted the importance of international academic engagement in broadening perspectives on contemporary English language education.
The guest lecture was moderated by Suci Sartika Putri, S.Pd., a third-semester student of the Master’s Program in English Language Education. Her involvement as moderator also reflected the program’s commitment to providing students with opportunities to actively participate in international academic activities. The official program scheduled the guest lecture by Dr. Tanya Kwee from 09.15 to 10.45 WIB.
During the main session, Dr. Tanya Kwee shared valuable perspectives on teacher professional development in relation to culturally responsive English language teaching. Her presentation emphasized the importance of developing teachers’ professional capacities to recognize and respond appropriately to the diverse cultural backgrounds, identities, and experiences that learners bring into English language classrooms.
The discussion positioned teacher professional development not only as a means of strengthening pedagogical knowledge and teaching skills but also as an ongoing process of developing teachers’ cultural awareness and responsiveness. This perspective is particularly relevant to contemporary English language education, where teachers increasingly work with learners from diverse linguistic, social, and cultural backgrounds.
The session received enthusiastic participation from the audience. Approximately 80 participants, representing lecturers, students, alumni, stakeholders, and ELT practitioners, attended the event virtually. Their diverse academic and professional backgrounds contributed to a dynamic academic exchange and strengthened the connection between scholarly perspectives and professional practices in English language education.
The International Guest Lecture was followed by the Opening Lecture for the new academic semester. Participants were divided into breakout rooms according to their semesters, where lecturers introduced the courses and provided initial academic orientation. The sessions covered Classroom Discourse Analysis in ELT, ELT Methodology and Innovation, Philosophy of Science, Research Methodology in ELT, Intercultural Communication, Literature in ELT, EFL Curriculum Analysis and Development, Educational Management and Supervision, and ICT-based English Teaching.
Through this International Guest Lecture, the Master’s Program in English Language Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Bengkulu, continues to strengthen its commitment to developing research-informed, culturally responsive, and internationally oriented English language education. The activity also contributes to expanding international academic networks while providing meaningful opportunities for students to engage directly in international academic forums.