English Medium Instruction (EMI) has become a key approach to the internationalization of higher education. It has been observed that the number of EMI courses is rapidly increasing worldwide. This phenomenon is partly driven by its contribution to government funding and the enhancement of universities' international rankings. Despite extensive discussions about EMI policies, there is a relative lack of focus on assessing student learning outcomes. Most current research on EMI tends to concentrate on the perceptions and attitudes of teachers and students, often relying on literature reviews, case studies, course satisfaction surveys, and qualitative interviews. However, these research methods limit the generalization of the results. Moreover, there is limited research specifically addressing student learning experiences, and each institution often emphasizes different aspects when assessing EMI courses, resulting in a lack of standardized evaluation criteria. The study aims to examine the combination of multiple factors involved in implementing to assess the conditions under which students achieve satisfactory learning outcomes through engagement indicators. Using the method of Fuzzy-set Qualitative comparative analysis (fsqca), we invited students who are currently enrolled or have enrolled in EMI courses across various geographical locations in Taiwan to participate in a survey in the fall of 2024. A total of 500 responses were collected, and the findings revealed that when both academic challenges and institutional support are met, student learning outcomes can be ensured. However, confidence in English is a significant factor that influences whether students enroll in courses. Policy implications are discussed.

Authors:
Ching-Hui Lin, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
Pei-Chen Hsia, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
Szu-Yin Lin, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Ching-Hui Lin, Assistant Professor, Center for Teacher Education, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Research interests fall into institutional research, higher education, student learning outcomes, and quantitative research.

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