English as a Medium of Instruction in Indonesian Higher Education: A Study of Lecturers’ Perceptions

Abstract

In light of the Indonesian Higher Education Ministry’s recent plan to make English interaction amongst university students compulsory, this chapter addresses perceptions of English medium instruction (EMI) in Indonesian Higher Education, focusing on lecturers of English and other subjects. Employing a mixed-methods approach with emphasis on qualitative data, the study involves participants who are based at public and private universities of both secular and religious orientation. Three themes form the basis of this study: perceptions of EMI, English in relation to national identity, and English in relation to the West. Data collection was conducted through questionnaires and individual interviews. The results reveal that perceptions of EMI at the tertiary level in Indonesia are complex, involving not only linguistic matters, but also larger issues such as national identity and sentiment towards English as an instructional language originating in the West.