English Medium Instruction Ideology, Management and Practices: a Case Study of Bangladeshi Private University

Abstract

In an increasingly globalized world, English medium instruction (EMI) in higher education has now become a common phenomenon. Recent research, however, has shown that EMI is not without its problems. This article reports a case study of a private university from Bangladesh. Employing Spolsky’s language policy framework, the study made a critical analysis of the institutional policy statements and website content of the university, and also carried out interviews with policymakers, faculty members and students to uncover the ideology, management and practices of languages in the university. The findings reveal a mismatch between intentions of EMI policy based on the language ideologies of the stakeholders, and the actual language practices in the university. The findings raise serious concerns regarding the adaptation of EMI policy in private universities in Bangladesh. More importantly, the quality and consequences of implementing such EMI policies need further investigation.