Internationalisation, Globalisation and English-Medium Higher Education

Abstract

Current developments in globalisation of world markets, internationalisation of HE systems and growing interest in intercultural education internationally continue to highlight issues surrounding the inextricable link between language and HE. This compounds the thesis that education cannot exist without language (Absalom 2004, p. 123), as language is the most important mediation tool for learning (Perret-Clermont 2009). This chapter addresses the language dimension of the European process of internationalising HE through English-medium education, a phenomenon which is far less researched in the European context than in post-colonial contexts (cf. Harlech-Jones 1990 for Namibia; Krishnamurti 1990 for India; Tung et al. 1997 and Tsui 2008 for Hong Kong; Uys et al. 2007 for South Africa).