Business Communication Training Through Social Practice

Business communication is foundational to economic participation, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and organizational collaboration. Yet many existing training models presume high-resource environments, standardized literacy levels, and reliable digital access-conditions that are often absent in rural communities, informal economies, and structurally disadvantaged contexts. These gaps are not confined to the Global South; even in developed countries, community-based organizations, small local businesses, and underserved populations frequently lack access to practical, context-sensitive communication training. Business Communication Training Through Social Practice: Approaches and Case Studies offers a timely rethinking of business communication training by emphasizing inclusive, community-driven, and socially responsive approaches. It challenges the dominant paradigm that focuses on formal, elite, or corporate contexts and instead highlights the communication practices and learning needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), marginalized learners, and grassroots initiatives. Covering topics such as informal communication, business communication training, and social practice, this book is an excellent academic resource for researchers, educators, trainers, curriculum designers, consultants, non-profit organizations, and more.

Ying Liu is a lecturer at the London School of Science and Technology, UK, supporting HE for disadvantaged communities. He holds a PhD from TU Delft, an MEd from Cambridge, and an MBA from Durham. A former advisor to China's Ministry of Education, Dr. Liu has held research fellowships at Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. He leads international education projects and founded LivePBL, a hybrid learning program shortlisted by European eLearning and QS Reimagine Education 2023.

Yuanyuan Li is a distinguished Professor at the Music College of Capital Normal University in Beijing, China, specializing in vocal education and advancing music pedagogy for global citizenship education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded the hybrid LivePBL (Linking Vocal Education through Project-Based Learning) project, collaborating with international teams to promote cultural and sustainable social development through music. LivePBL has been featured at major conferences, including the London International Conference on Education and QS Reimaging Education. Professor Li is a member of prestigious music associations and a judge for vocal competitions. Her students have won numerous awards, showcasing her effective teaching. She has led significant educational projects recognized by the Ministry of Education, including student-centred vocal teaching and nationwide cross-school online open courses on classical Chinese music.