Bilingual Education and EMI Support: IMADE’s Vision for Inclusive Internationalization
June 9, 2025 2025-06-09 22:27Bilingual Education and EMI Support: IMADE’s Vision for Inclusive Internationalization
At the Institute of Moroccan American Development and Education (IMADE), we believe that internationalization of education must be pursued through inclusive, equitable, and locally rooted strategies. We are committed to advancing English-Medium Instruction (EMI) and bilingual education initiatives as vehicles for global engagement, national development, and linguistic justice.
Why Bilingual Education?
Bilingual education is more than a pedagogical strategy—it is a framework for preserving cultural identity while equipping learners with the tools to participate in a globalized world. IMADE supports the development of bilingual programs that elevate the status of national languages while integrating English as a complementary medium. We view bilingualism not as a compromise, but as a strength that fosters cognitive flexibility, intercultural competence, and academic mobility.
Supporting EMI with Equity
As English continues to shape academic and professional landscapes, we recognize both its strategic value and its risks. Uncritical implementation of EMI often sidelines local languages and educational traditions. At IMADE, we advocate for EMI models that are thoughtfully integrated, contextually relevant, and pedagogically sound. Our work focuses on:
- Curriculum development for EMI programs in partnership with local institutions
- Teacher training and faculty development in EMI pedagogy
- Resource design and content adaptation to support bilingual and EMI classrooms
- Policy consultation for governments and universities navigating language planning and internationalization
Partnering with Moroccan Schools and Universities
IMADE seeks to collaborate with K-12 schools, universities, and teacher-training institutes across Morocco. We offer tailored programs that reflect local needs and global best practices, including:
- Global Classrooms Morocco: A bilingual education initiative providing K-12 schools with curriculum design, EMI training for teachers, and intercultural education modules.
- EMI Excellence for Educators (EEE): A professional development certificate program for faculty and lecturers delivering instruction in English, focused on pedagogy, language scaffolding, and inclusive classroom practices.
- Language Policy in Action (LPA): A workshop series for school and university leaders exploring how to design and implement language policies that balance national identity with international readiness.
- Bridge Morocco: A university partnership program that supports bilingual curriculum innovation, joint research, and academic exchange around internationalization themes.
Our Commitment
We envision a future where Moroccan students, educators, and institutions are not passive recipients of global norms, but active participants in shaping international education. By supporting bilingualism and equitable EMI, IMADE is working to ensure that internationalization is not only about access—but also about agency, inclusion, and long-term impact.
If your institution is looking to build or strengthen bilingual or EMI initiatives, we invite you to connect with us. Let’s build a more linguistically inclusive and globally connected future together.
