Journal article

The incentivisation of English medium instruction in Chinese universities: policy misfires and misalignments

Abstract:: The growth of English medium instruction (EMI) in higher education in China over the past two decades has been promoted via implicit and explicit policies that aim to incentivise activities associated with the creation of English-taught courses and programs. This study investigates the components of such incentivisation schemes. It also explores how incentivisation policies are being implemented by policy arbiters, EMI programme directors, and EMI teachers. Data were collected from two sources: 93 institutional policy documents on EMI provision collected from 63 Chinese universities, and 26 interviews with senior university staff at a selection of eight Chinese universities. Results revealed that incentivisation policies focused on increased workload weighting for EMI courses, greater access to career development opportunities for teachers, increased monetary rewards, and dedicated financial support for creating and delivering courses. A comparison of policy and practice revealed areas of policy misfires and misalignments. EMI teachers considered the workload incentives insufficient and were not primarily motivated by financial rewards, but rather chose to teach in English for professional, academic, and personal intrinsic rewards; many viewed EMI at the core of their teacher-researcher academic identities. The paper concludes with recommendations to better align incentivisation policies with the driving forces attached to EMI in China.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

Xu, X., Rose, H., McKinley, J., & Zhou, S. (2021). The incentivisation of English medium instruction in Chinese universities: policy misfires and misalignments. Applied Linguistics Review, 14(6), 1539–1561.

MLA Style

Xu, X., et al. “The Incentivisation of English Medium Instruction in Chinese Universities: Policy Misfires and Misalignments.” Applied Linguistics Review, vol. 14, no. 6, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2021, pp. 1539–61.

Chicago Style

Xu, X, H Rose, J McKinley, and S Zhou. 2021. “The Incentivisation of English Medium Instruction in Chinese Universities: Policy Misfires and Misalignments.” Applied Linguistics Review 14 (6): 1539–61.
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Files:: Xu_et_al_2021_The_incentivisation_of.pdf

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Publisher copy:: 10.1515/applirev-2021-0181

Authors

+ Xu, X More by this author

Institution:: University of Oxford
Division:: SSD
Department:: Education
Role:: Author
ORCID:: 0000-0002-9972-8995

+ Rose, H More by this author

Role:: Author

+ McKinley, J More by this author

Role:: Author

+ Zhou, S More by this author

Role:: Author

Publisher:: Walter de Gruyter GmbH
Journal:: Applied Linguistics Review More from this journal
Volume:: 14
Issue:: 6
Pages:: 1539–1561
Publication date:: 2021-12-02
Acceptance date:: 2021-11-13
DOI:: 10.1515/applirev-2021-0181
EISSN:: 1868-6311
ISSN:: 1868-6303

Language:: English
Keywords:: Chinese higher education

incentivisation

English medium instruction

FFR

higher education policy

EMI driving forces
Pubs id:: 1217657
Local pid:: pubs:1217657
Deposit date:: 2022-01-04

Terms of use

Copyright holder:: Xu et al
Copyright date:: 2021
Rights statement:: ©2021 Xin Xu et al, published by De Gruyter. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Licence:: CC Attribution (CC BY)

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