The study focused on tracing the language development of students in a functional English course through the initiation of a diagnostic test. The diagnostic test aided the designing of classroom instruction together with the development of online language tasks as support activities. The post-test taken after an intervention of eight weeks revealed that the weekly online language tasks helped improve the language skills of students and made them autonomous learners. A mixed method approach was used where the scores of students were analysed quantitatively, while semi-structured interviews were taken to mark the satisfaction level with online language activities. The study highlighted the significance of a blended learning approach towards language development.

Higher education institutions as seats for higher learning are expected to maintainhigh standards of social integrity and embed the same in routine academic andsocial operations. For this it is first important to highlight the types of malpracticesthat negatively impact a work environment and identify their causes. Moreover, itis incumbent to seek viable solutions to ward off such degenerative practices. Oneof the solutions is to involve statutory bodies, develop and enforce whistleblowingpolicies across academic institutions so that academic or moral corruption can beunearthed and properly investigated. Moreover, such policies should safeguard theidentity of the whistleblowers and provide them with all kinds of organizationalprotection and security. Unless appropriate policy directions underlining strictand legal actions against the wrongdoers are not in place, such misconducts willcontinue to taint the image and integrity of academic institutions.