A blended learning model for English Medium Instruction in higher education

English Medium Instruction (EMI) learning is at an early exploratory stage in Tai Wan higher education (HE). EMI is where students are taught their discipline in an English only context. This approach to university instruction is new for both the lecturers and students in Tai Wan and other Asian countries where English is a foreign language. Based on a review of the EMI practices in Australian universities, the authors of this chapter have proposed that a blended learning and assessment model used in conjunction with EMI could be implemented in Tai Wan and other Asian countries, thus providing innovative opportunities for designing and assessing university courses and units for the twenty-first century. This model is significant for two reasons. First, the continuity of globalization increases the need for preparing university graduates to have disciplinary knowledge as well as specialist English language skills to respond to the requirements of the local/global labour market driven by international and transnational companies in Tai Wan. Second, due to the internationalization of higher education in English speaking countries such as USA, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, a large percentage of Tai Wan students are attracted to those countries to pursue advanced education. This has led to a decrease in the local student enrolments in Tai Wan universities. To counter this, Tai Wan HE is planning to reform its university teaching model/s. The blended learning and assessment model proposed here for units and courses delivered using EMI seeks to address the challenges of this current context- to cultivate qualified graduates who are capable of responding to current labour market requirements and to enhance the internationalization of Tai Wan higher education.