Bibliometric Analysis of English as a Medium of Instruction in Asia: Adoption and Challenges

This paper presents a bibliometric review of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) in Asia, focusing on EMI adoption and challenges discussed by most influential authors or documents, and the thematic developments in the field. Drawing on data from the Web of Science and analysed through keyword co-occurrence, bibliometric coupling, and co-citation analysis, the study traces the growth of EMI research in Asia from its early years to 2025. The review identified common themes, including language and higher education, student experiences, motivations in EMI programs, and policy and governance, which shape EMI initiatives. Additionally, the review highlighted numerous seminal works and influential authors in the field. Notably, through review, many studies discussed the policy-practice gap in countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, and China, as well as the ideological tensions surrounding language use in educational settings. With these findings, the study offers practical implications for educators and policymakers seeking effective EMI programs in the region.