Introduction: Toward critical English-medium instruction in multilingual universities

In this introductory chapter, we present the overall rationale for the need of this volume and briefly discuss each contributing chapter. The main goal of this volume is to invite English-medium instruction (EMI) researchers to collaboratively unpack the critical dimensions of EMI policies, politics, and ideologies drawing on empirical evidence from different multilingual universities in Asia. This volume is the first of its kind in that it provides an exclusive and critical tapestry of EMI policies, politics, and ideologies at multilingual universities from all parts of Asia: Central Asia (Kazakhstan), East Asia (China, Korea, and Japan), South Asia (Bangladesh and Nepal), Southeast Asia (Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam), and Western Asia (United Arab Emirates). The chapter begins with a discussion on the need for a critical approach to EMI research, policies, and practices, followed by a deliberation on various definitions of EMI. Then, it reviews the growth of EMI in Asian contexts and ends with a presentation of all contributing chapters. Copyright © 2023 selection and editorial matter, Pramod K. Sah and Fan Fang; individual chapters, the contributors.