Rate My Professor Jackie Tagg

Dr. Jacqueline Tagg, known professionally as Jackie Tagg, is a Professional Practice Fellow and International Adviser in the Division of Health Sciences at the University of Otago. Possessing over two decades of experience in tertiary education in New Zealand and internationally, she has instructed in English for General and Academic Purposes (EAP), foundation programmes, and academic skills development. Her expertise centers on enhancing communication in multicultural settings and crafting inclusive assessments sensitive to students' diverse cultural and linguistic needs. In her present position, she aids international and multilingual students in succeeding within the competitive Health Sciences professional programmes, supporting ESL students with clinical communication through practical observation and modelling.

Tagg earned her PhD from the University of Otago in 2023 with the thesis titled “I would have liked more real things”: Students’ reflections on the social and academic success of an EAP programme. She also holds an MEd with Distinction, a Postgraduate Diploma in TESOL, a Diploma in Teaching, and a BA. Her research lies at the intersection of academic language development, student equity, and international education, specifically within health sciences. She examines the non-academic aspects of EAP—such as communication, social integration, well-being, identity, and institutional support—and their influence on the academic trajectories of international and refugee-background students. Utilizing qualitative and applied methodologies, she develops and assesses support programmes promoting inclusion and resilience to guide institutional policies. Her publications encompass “Beyond the classroom: The role of non-academic factors in EAP programme success for tertiary study” (TESOLANZ Journal, 2026, pp. 25-41), the co-authored article “Pedagogical training for developing students’ metacognition: Implications for educators” (International Journal for Academic Development, 2023), “Professional development of educators in metacognition: A real ‘eye-opener’” (ANZAHPE Conference Proceedings, 2020), and “Enhancing PASS through structured metacognitive awareness training” (Australasian PASS and Peer Learning Conference Proceedings, 2019). Additionally, she designed and leads a programme helping international students develop their voice, aligning with the University’s equity and inclusion commitments.