English-Medium Instruction in Higher Education in Uzbekistan: Views on Effectiveness, Career Prospects and Challenges

Abstract

Several higher educational institutions (HEI) have launched English-Medium programs in order to recruit foreign students and increase graduate qualification for better employability. The present study reports on the results of an online survey and semi-structured interviews of administrators, instructors and students towards the use of English as a medium of instruction in tertiary level in Uzbekistan, where Uzbek is the native language of the students and the pedagogical staff. The sample of the study consisted of 34 participants: 13 instructors, 15 students and 6 administrators at the universities of Uzbekistan. The results of the questionnaire and interviews show that implementing an EMI approach would attribute responsibility on the teaching staff and require very carefully designed curricula. The findings also suggest that EMI courses improve English proficiency, contribute to instructors’ professional development, career, and income and enhance students’ interaction with their international fellows. Such recommendations as motivating students, making classes more interesting and comfortable are made by both instructors and students pointing to the fact that English proficiency is crucial to the learning success of professional knowledge. EMI courses offer great opportunities to both students and instructors.