Call for Papers – Communication and Languages in Asian-Pacific Regions: Connection, Collaboration, and Sustainability

Closes:
Journal
Southeast Asia: A Multidisciplinary Journal
Guest editor(s)
Dr. Min Shen, Dr. Balazs Huszka , Dr. Hang Min,
Introduction:

The Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Language Centre is honoured to host the APCA-ANPOR UBD 2025 Conference on 27–28 May 2025, themed “Communication and Languages in Asian-Pacific Regions: Connection, Collaboration, and Sustainability.” This special issue builds on the conference and reflects our commitment to contributing meaningfully to the advancement of communication and language studies in the Asian-Pacific region.

Across Asia and the Pacific, communication and language play critical roles in fostering cross-border connectivity, building collaborative networks, and promoting sustainable development. In line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, this special issue seeks to highlight how communication and language research contributes to the creation of resilient societies, equitable policies, and intercultural collaboration.

Recent scholarship has underscored the role of sustainable communication practices in addressing global challenges, including social inequality, cultural preservation, digital connectivity, and multilingual diversity (Kramsch, 2021; Qiu, 2020). At the same time, language policies and education initiatives remain pivotal in shaping how individuals and communities engage across national and cultural boundaries. The Asian-Pacific region, characterised by its vast linguistic diversity and shifting sociopolitical landscapes, presents both opportunities and challenges for scholars and practitioners seeking to connect communication research with sustainable futures.

This special issue therefore calls for contributions that examine the interplay between language, communication, and sustainability from multiple disciplinary perspectives. We especially welcome studies that address how sustainable practices are developed, contested, and implemented within education systems, media networks, policymaking frameworks, and intercultural contexts.

The key questions that contributors will address include:
  1. How do communication and language research contribute to sustainability in Asian-Pacific contexts?
  2. In what ways do language education, policy, and practice foster intercultural collaboration and connectivity?
  3. How can sustainable communication practices address challenges posed by digitalisation, diversity, and global networks?
Scope of the Special Issue

We welcome submissions on topics related to communication, languages, and sustainability in the Asian-Pacific region, including (but not limited to):

  • Sustainable Communication Practices
  • Innovations in Language Education
  • Language, Communication, and Connectivity
  • Linguistic Diversity and Communication
  • Language Policy and Sustainability
  • Education and Training in Communication Partnerships and Networking

Both empirical research and conceptual/theoretical contributions are encouraged. Comparative case studies and interdisciplinary perspectives are especially welcome.

Guest Editors
Key Deadlines
  • Open date for manuscript submissions: 1 December 2025
  • Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026
Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online using Scholar One Manuscripts.

Submit your manuscript here!

Please visit the journal's Author Guidelines for more submission information. Submitted manuscripts must not have been published previously, nor should they be under consideration elsewhere.