The Increasing Need for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Foreign Language Education

Abstract

The rapid growth of higher educational institutions globally has been well documented. This has been followed by an equally substantial increase in the number of institutions that are offering English as the medium of instruction (EMI). While this may be seen as a welcome development as it suggests increased access to higher education and employment opportunities, it also elevates concerns regarding quality of education. Many argue that the concern is justified given the number of “diploma mills” offering degrees for sale. Indeed, the need to verify institutional and programmatic legitimacy has led to the expansion of the institutional and specialized accreditation industries. This is particularly the case for the EMI segment of the higher education sector. To illustrate, in Turkey, a two-decade expansion of the higher education sector has been accompanied by an increase in the number of schools offering EMI. This trend has generated questions regarding governance, quality assurance, and accreditation of those programs that are preparing students for English language academic programs. In turn, the Turkish Council on Higher Education has supported both external review and accreditation schemes that specifically address these issues. This, however, is not exclusive to Turkey. Throughout the region, and primarily the Middle East, we see emerging and continuing efforts to raise quality in English and foreign language education, which is why this volume is timely. It is during this critical period that the chapters that follow examine global and regional challenges and solutions regarding quality and accreditation in language education. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019.