Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), in conjunction with its 70^th Anniversary celebrations, is collaborating with the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language in Indonesia (TEFLIN) to host the 70^th TEFLIN and 17^th CONAPLIN International Conference under the theme “Diverse Voices: Navigating World Englishes in Language Pedagogy and Language Policy.” This prestigious event is a collaboration among four different units in UPI, among others are the Language Center, English Education Study Program, and English Language and Literature Study Program of the Faculty of Language and Literature Education, as well as the Linguistics Study Program of UPI School of Graduate Studies, held at the Achmad Sanusi Building from October 23-25, 2024.

This annual international conference brings together the TEFLIN and CONAPLIN traditions. This event provides a platform for experts and practitioners in English language teaching, as well as those engaged in applied linguistics research, to share their ideas, research findings, and experiences. In addition, the presenters can share the trends and innovations, as well as their best practices.

The conference theme this year focuses on the crucial role of English as a global language and its diversity in the contexts of language teaching and policy. Specific topics in applied linguistics are also explored to enrich this grand event. This international conference is attended by more than 450 speakers and participants from 17 countries, among others are Malaysia, United Kingdon, Hungary, Vietnam, Italy, Japan, etc.

The keynote speaker for the conference is Alastair Pennycook, a renowned expert from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. Plenary speakers include Tariq Elyas from King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia; Roby Marlina from SEAMEO RELC; Emi Emilia from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia; and Dina Mehmedbegovic-Smith from University College London. In addition to the keynote and plenary sessions, the conference features other interesting forums such as the Global National Expert Forum (GNEF) with speakers from TEFLIN Affiliates, Featured Presentations, and a series of workshops on various topics. 

In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Dr. Bunyamin Maftuh, M.Pd., M.A., Vice Rector for Research, International Affairs, Partnership, and Business at UPI, stated that this conference not only serves as a gathering place for renowned experts and academics in the field of English language education and applied linguistics but also plays a significant role in celebrating UPI’s 70^th Anniversary, with the spirit of “UPI Berkarya, UPI Mendunia.” This event, he further explained, demonstrates UPI’s commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment that values diversity, innovation, and intellectual exchange.

Meanwhile, TEFLIN President, Prof. Utami Widiati, stated that English, as a global language today, has been greatly influenced by the unique identities of its users. This inevitably poses new challenges for teachers in positioning English as a global language that is not owned by one or a few nations but by many people with diverse identities.

In line with its theme, the three-day conference is expected to generate a wide range of fresh and innovative ideas that can positively contribute to the development of English language teaching and applied linguistics, both nationally and globally.