On 26-27 March 2026, the School of Languages and General Education (SOLGEN), Walailak University, co-organized the 2nd International Research Conference on Language Teaching and Learning at the Sri Thammarat Meeting Hall (AD Building) and NG Building, Walailak University. The conference brought together educators, researchers, and scholars from across Asia to exchange knowledge, research, and innovative practices in language education.

Held under the theme “Empowering educators and learners: Advancing quality education through language, pedagogy, and teacher development,” the conference welcomed more than 80 participants from South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The diverse international participation reflected the conference’s strong academic network and commitment to fostering cross-border collaboration and advancing quality language education in multilingual and multicultural contexts.

The conference featured a keynote address by Dr. Roby Marlina, Editor of the RELC Journal, who explored the evolving paradigm of Global Englishes and its implications for language teaching materials. The plenary session, delivered by Asst. Prof. Dr. Denchai Prabjandee of Burapha University, focused on reforming teacher education in response to the Global Englishes paradigm. He critically examined teacher preparation programs rooted in native-speakerism and highlighted the need to better prepare teachers for increasingly multilingual and multicultural learning environments.

International perspectives were further enriched by featured speakers, including Myrel Santiago of Tarlac State University, Philippines, and Todd Phillips of Asia University, Japan. Their contributions provided opportunities for participants to exchange perspectives, experiences, and innovative approaches to language education and teacher professional development across diverse educational contexts.

The conference also featured parallel research presentation sessions at the NG Building, providing an academic platform for researchers and educators from different countries to share research findings, engage in scholarly dialogue, and establish connections for future academic collaboration.

Through its role as a co-organizer, SOLGEN strengthened its engagement in international academic collaboration and contributed to expanding academic networks among educators, researchers, and institutions across Asia. The conference provided valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange, research networking, and future collaboration in language teaching, research, and professional development, further supporting Walailak University’s commitment to internationalization and academic excellence.