EMI and the Internationalization of Universities: An Overview

Abstract

This chapter describes the state of the art in internationalization of higher education and English-medium instruction (EMI), setting out the key concepts, research methods and controversial areas. There are two sections: the first looks broadly at internationalization as a field and the second at how it intersects with EMI, with recommendations for research and teaching. The chapter argues that the spread of EMI has outpaced research and that if the political-economic drive towards internationalization is to be successful and fair, researchers need to question whether EMI policies help the process of internationalization by producing sustainable economic and social development. It argues for a less ideological, more evidence-based and culturally-focused research perspective as a counterweight to the threat to cultural identity posed by internationalization exclusively through English.