Language Practices and Processes in English-Medium Higher Education in Uzbekistan

This study on "Language Practices and Processes in English-medium Higher Education in Uzbekistan" critically evaluates the current state of English Medium of Instruction (EMI) and English Medium Education (EME) in the country, looks at the dichotomy of EMI and EME practices and processes at the state and international institutions and draws important research-driven implications on how and why stakeholders' experiences within EME can be improved. Despite the constraints imposed by COVID, the fieldwork to collect data for the study was undertaken at 14 universities in Uzbekistan. The study used a mixed-methods approach, which enabled the collection of a rich data set. The findings are based on 2282 questionnaire responses, 13 policy documents, 31 class observations, 21 focus-group discussions with students and teachers, as well as 22 individual interviews with the teachers and 12 individual interviews with macro- and micro-level administrative staff members. In my study, I extend and restructure the ROAD-MAPPING framework proposed by Dafouz and Smit (2020), the only theoretical model thus far developed for EME. To show and implement a holistic rather than linear model, which seeks to represent the relationship between processes and practices on the one hand and the attitudes and beliefs of stakeholders on the other, the updated framework is developed as a 3D model. The findings show that how EMI is implemented at the universities is built around the positive image of English that all stakeholders share. However, EMI is a much more complex issue and, in its whole nature, is not viewed by students, teachers, and university leaders in the way that much of the research literature understands it. As a result, the complexity of EMI and its impact on stakeholders is often simplified, impacting practice. This research maps existing EMI and EME practices that suggest an appreciation of multilingual reality in the country, acknowledgement of existing challenges, and evaluation of possible ways to overcome these challenges. It also offers recommendations for effective EME policy and planning.