Can China Keep Rising in the Age of Globalization?: Chinese Students’ Learning and Living Experience at Two “World-Class” Research Universities in East Asia

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy Y. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Education Reform ◽  
Research Universities ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Chinese Students ◽  
National Plan ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
World Class ◽  
World Class Universities

Abstract “World-class” research universities have long been a priority in the educational, corporate, and political spheres in China. With the establishment of the Outline of China’s National Plan for Medium and Long Term Education Reform and Development (2010-2020), China seeks to develop globally competitive research universities that are based on position in the global rankings. In this article, the author examines the role of college environment (e.g., academic, campus, interpersonal) on college student’s learning and development relative to China’s quest for “world-class” universities. Utilizing Jamil Salmi’s (2009) theoretical framework of ‘world-class universities,’ this article introduces Chan’s conceptual framework of ‘Environment-Learning-Resources (elr)’ to suggest how the college environments influence the imposition of structure, processes, and student learning at emerging global research universities in mainland China.

scholarly journals Progress towards a World-Class Research University status: The case of Nanjing Agricultural University

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Wanjiru Ruth Irungu ◽  
Xiaoguang Liu ◽  
Chuyu Han ◽  
Alvin Bomer ◽  
Wambui Ann Wanjiru
Keyword(s):  
Research Universities ◽  
Research University ◽  
Develop World ◽  
Research Status ◽  
Research Production ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
The World ◽  
World Class ◽  
World Class Universities

The concept of “world-class university” has been there for some time, and everyone wants a world-class university, and no country feels it can do without one. This battle to develop world-class universities lies not only in the gained status but also in the symbolic role of such universities. Universities exist mainly for research and dissemination of knowledge, which have become critical drivers of economic growth. For this reason, world-class research universities are recognized as central institutions in the 21st century economies. This recognition comes with pressure for universities to rethink their research activities and with the need to raise their research status to that of internationally accepted world-class universities. However, in order to attain the world-class research status, there is a need to sustain the efforts being put in place at both national and university levels. This study analyzed university data over nine years, from 2008 to 2016. It examined how Nanjing Agricultural University has strived to sustain its efforts towards attaining world-class research status. The results reveal that consistency and sustainability have resulted in excellence in research and increased research production. The conclusion is that the sustainability of the efforts significantly increases research production and excellence.

The Role of World-Class and Other Research Universities in Contributing to the New Silk Road Initiative

2020 ◽  
pp. 312-330
Author(s):  
Lin Tian ◽  
Nian Cai Liu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Research Universities ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
Functional Perspective ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
World Class ◽  
Multiple Case Studies ◽  
World Class Universities

University functions underpin models of universities as well as enrich our understanding of “the idea of universities.” Both global research universities, which are generally regarded as “world-class universities” (WCUs), and other research universities (RUs) are important constituents of the higher education system, since they are most likely to be exposed and more responsive to external changes and social expectations, such as the increased emphasis on relevance and service to society. The New Silk Road (NSR) Initiative, which highlights the interactions in major parts of the world across the Euro-Asian continent, including higher education and academic cooperation between China and Europe, potentially affects these research universities as both the primary subjects as well as the objects in pushing it forward. Through multiple case studies in China and Europe, this chapter analyzes and compares the role of WCUs/RUs in China and Europe in contributing to the NSR Initiative from a functional perspective.

scholarly journals Creating World-Class Universities in Japan: Policy and Initiatives

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 629-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Oba
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education Reform ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Higher Education Reform ◽  
Develop World ◽  
Funding Policy ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
World Class ◽  
The Government ◽  
World Class Universities

For a very long time the Japanese government concentrated its higher education investment on a handful of national institutions, until the policy came to be called into question in the late 1980s in the face of globalisation and other factors. Higher education reform was significantly accelerated in the 1990s: the government has continuously deregulated the higher education system including the incorporation of national universities, and has brought more and more competition through diverse competitive funding schemes. Some policies – not only higher education policies but also science and technology ones – were explicitly designed to develop ‘world-class’ education and research centres, such as the 21st COE programme. This article suggests that although a funding policy based on competition, with a strict evaluation, seems to be a move in the right direction, a right balance of budget allocation between competitive funds and basic education-research funds should be sought. Furthermore, the programmes of the government have to be offered in a more consistent manner, and more concerted and integrated efforts will be required, to address the critical problem of building world-class universities.

scholarly journals ANECDOTES AND CONTOURS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN INDIA

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (11) ◽  
pp. 35-42
Author(s):  
Gopal Krishna Thakur
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education System ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
The Core ◽  
Education In India ◽  
World Class ◽  
Historical Trajectory ◽  
World Class Universities

Higher education is considered as an invaluable instrument for the sustainable development of human being and society through a dynamic process of creation, advancement, and dissemination of knowledge. In a fast developing country like India the role of higher education assume utmost importance. Universities have a pivotal role in realizing this goal. Our higher education system has had a glorious past in the form of world-class universities like Nalanda, Vikramsila, and Taxila, which attracted students and intellectuals from all over the world those days. However, in the present time we are lagging far behind in terms of qualitative education and research. This necessitates a serious concern and introspection to look into the nuances and flaws of our system that make our higher education system stand at where it is now. This paper, based on the analysis of various reports and Govt. documents, discusses some of the issues, which are at the core of the main concerns pertaining to higher education in India. Taking a snapshot of the historical trajectory of higher education system in India to the present time, this paper presents an overview of the higher education system in India and points out some most relevant concerns troubling the issue at the core.

Building world-class universities in BRICS and emerging economies

2020 ◽  
pp. 501-522
Author(s):  
C. Raj Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Economies ◽  
International Collaboration ◽  
Home Country ◽  
Academic Careers ◽  
Regulatory Bodies ◽  
World Class ◽  
The Government ◽  
World Class Universities ◽  
The Relationship

As many studies indicate, BRICS and emerging economies, especially those with a colonial past from Asia and Africa, have traditionally witnessed an exodus of students and researchers seeking opportunities in established universities outside their home country to develop their academic careers. However, a culmination of democratic values, aspirations of citizens from these countries, and globalization have resulted in the need for world-class universities in BRICS and emerging economies. While resources are important, the relationship between the government/regulatory bodies and universities warrants serious examination. Understanding and facilitating the role of faculty (staff), students, researchers, and international collaboration will remain important.

Birla milks its employees for the creamiest leaders of the future

2015 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-11
Author(s):  
Geeta Rana ◽  
Alok Kumar Goel
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Learning And Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Independent Unit ◽  
The Future ◽  
World Class ◽  
Art Research ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This paper aims to describe how Birla creates a strong pipeline of people who are ready to lead the organization in the future. Design/methodology/approach – It explains the origins of the group’s global-manufacturing leadership program (GMLP), the form it takes and the results it has achieved. Findings – It reveals that the program aims to shape the manufacturing leaders of tomorrow through exposing them to world-class technologies and processes, state-of-the-art research and continuous learning and development opportunities. Practical implications – It reveals that of the five GMLP candidates recruited in 2011, three have become independent unit heads, one in China and two in India. Social implications – It outlines the company belief that retaining and developing the skills of its existing workforce is at least as important as importing new talent when faced with increasing competition and growing pressure to cut costs in its main markets. Originality/value – It demonstrates that the program is designed to ensure that each participant is able to understand and anticipate customer needs, influence colleagues without too openly expressing authority and develop and communicate the company’s long-term vision.

The strategic role of world-class universities in regional innovation system: China’s Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong’s academic profession

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hei-hang Hayes Tang
Keyword(s):  
Triple Helix ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Academic Profession ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bay Area ◽  
Strategic Role ◽  
World Class ◽  
World Class Universities

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the strategic role of world-class universities and the international academic profession in the regionalisation project of China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA). It illustrates the way in which the case of the GBA regionalisation project offers a potentially rich empirical example for adding contextual understanding to the literature of the Triple Helix model, which largely draws on inductive theorising from western successful innovation cases. The GBA regionalisation processes will provide a wealth of empirical cases for identifying circumstances that address tensions and increase interactions in the Triple Helix relationship of university, government and industry for fostering knowledge synergies.Design/methodology/approachFocusing on the case of Hong Kong, it engages in policy and stakeholder analysis and addresses three key research questions: What are the competitive advantages and potential strategic role of Hong Kong's universities and academic profession in the regionalisation of innovation systems in the GBA? What is the role of the governments in the regionalisation processes? What are the expected opportunities and challenges offered by the GBA policy initiatives for the future development of Hong Kong’s universities and academic profession?FindingsHong Kong, given its status as an international finance centre and global city with intense internationalisation and established judicial system operated by the rule of law, will contribute to the GBA development by leveraging on its edge in scientific research and development and international networks of academic research through the world-class academic profession. Scientists and researchers in the city, possessing the competitive advantages of basic research and international partnerships, are highly regarded by the central government. The engagement of Hong Kong’s scientific talents, can play an important role in achieving China’s aspiration of becoming a global technology power.Research limitations/implicationsAnalysis of this article implies that the GBA concept is currently China’s ambitious but vague economic plan. The opportunities in which key node cities and knowledge/ innovation clusters will capture and capitalise from the regional ‘co-opetitive” ’entrepreneurial ecosystem are still unclear. The future of the GBA regionalisation is so dynamic and open-ended that grounded concepts related to the governance innovation/ discourse of ‘one country two systems’ and social connectedness and capitalisation with Chinese characteristics will help in making sense of the contextualisation of a Chinese regional innovation system and enhancing the sophistication of reconceptualisation of the Triple Helix model.Originality/valueThis article will add to the literature some novel contextualised knowledge about the GBA’s potential triple-helix relationship between government-university-industry in the 21st century. The empirical example of China’s GBA will also shed light on a new understanding of the role of international social capital in the entrepreneurial knowledge economy, dynamics between basic and applied research, and a synergistic interface between regionalisation and national innovation system.

scholarly journals Successful strategies to be learnt from world-class universities

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 350-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruxandra Bejinaru ◽  
Gabriela Prelipcean
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Social World ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Conceptual Issue ◽  
International Ranking ◽  
World Class ◽  
The Individual ◽  
World Class Universities

Abstract Throughout the present paper we want to argue the idea that higher education is strongly linked with research, innovation, and competitive advantage and thus plays a crucial role not only for the individual and societal development but also in the process of delivering the National and European Strategy, to drive forward growth. Universities are the main actors responsible to provide the highly skilled human capital that Europe needs in order to create jobs, successful businesses, and prosperity. The ambitious aim to become a world-class university has its roots not just in rational (financial) considerations, but also in the symbolic role of such universities. The rankings made the competition between the states very visible and thus, are most commonly recognized as an indicator of success due to excellence-driven policies. Within this work we bring arguments and examples about which are the most efficient strategies of world-class universities. The first section of the paper we argue the roles of universities within nowadays economic and social world. The second section of the paper highlights the conceptual issue of world-class universities, the motivation and the determinants of such a goal. Within sections three of the paper we benchmark the key factors of two main international ranking (the THES and SJTU) and we analyse the successful strategies of famous world-class universities. According to the research conclusions and to our considerations we suggest that a valid option would be for universities to follow the international trend towards becoming a world-class university. Also an opportunity would be to develop themselves into learning organizations.

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