Arabicization or Englishization of higher education in the Arab world? Controversies, policies and realities

Abstract

Though there have been many calls for the Arabicization versus Englishization of higher education in the Arab world, no previous work seems to have comprehensively covered these calls and their outcomes in the region. In this paper, the authors review literature on the following four main pertinent issues: (a) the arguments for and against the Arabicization versus Englishization of higher education in the Arab world; (b) Arabicization attempts of higher education; (c) current Englishization policies and orientations of Arab higher education systems; and (d) realities of EMI practices in Arab universities. It is concluded that higher education Arabicization movements in the Arab world have not brought about their desired outcomes due to some barriers, whereas Englishization policies and practices have increasingly expanded in the region in the last three decades. The paper ends with discussing the implications of the review.