With the foundation of the university in 1991, a Language Teaching Center was created to provide general language skills courses. An external consultancy report in 1996 revealed that these courses were not addressing the principal needs of students from the region, who were particularly weak in writing. In 1996 the first academic writing courses were offered for initially only two departments, but by 1998 introductory writing courses were offered for 8 departments. Gradually since then, courses have become increasingly oriented towards the needs of the individual disciplines, collaboration with faculty and student feedback assisting in this process.

Advanced courses addressing thesis writing needs began to be introduced in 1999, with an optional thesis writing course for Legal Studies, which was made mandatory in 2003. This was followed by a course in research and thesis writing for students of International Relations, taught jointly with faculty, and a thesis course for economists in 2001. The first PhD level course was offered in dissertation writing for Legal Studies SJD students in 2002. At present we teach or co-teach advanced writing or thesis writing courses in most departments.

Since 1998, the experience and qualification level of the writing center instructors has also increased dramatically. Almost all staff now have master's degrees in a relevant discipline, and several are preparing for their PhD. The average length of teaching experience has risen from 4 years in 1998 to 15 years in 2005.

The Language Teaching Center was renamed ‘Center for Academic Writing’ in 2003.

Last revised:  29 September, 2005