China's Rising Research Universities: A New Era of Global Ambition PDF
Preview China's Rising Research Universities: A New Era of Global Ambition
China’s Rising Research Universities This page intentionally left blank China’s Rising Research Universities A New Era of Global Ambition RobeRt A. RhoAds XiAoyAng WAng XiAogUAng shi yongCAi ChAng Foreword by Ji baocheng Johns hopkins University Press Baltimore © 2014 Johns hopkins University Press All rights reserved. Published 2014 Printed in the United states of America on acid-free paper 2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1 Johns hopkins University Press 2715 north Charles street baltimore, Maryland 21218-4363 www.press.jhu.edu Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data Rhoads, Robert A. China’s rising research universities : a new era of global ambition / Robert A. Rhoads, Xiaoyang Wang, Xiaoguang shi, and yongcai Chang ; foreword by Ji baocheng pages cm includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-1-4214-1453-9 (hardcover : alk. paper) — isbn 978-1-4214-1454-6 (electronic) — isbn 1-4214-1453-8 (hardcover : alk. paper) — isbn 1-4214-1454-6 (electronic) 1. Universities and colleges—Research—China. 2. education, higher—Research—China. i. title. Lb2326.3.R56 2014 378.51—dc23 2013044776 A catalog record for this book is available from the british Library. Special discounts are available for bulk purchases of this book. For more information, please contact Special Sales at 410-516-6936 or [email protected]. Johns hopkins University Press uses environmentally friendly book materials, including recycled text paper that is composed of at least 30 percent post-consumer waste, whenever possible. Contents Foreword, by Ji Baocheng vii Preface xi introduction the Chinese University and the Quest for World-Class standing 1 1 tsinghua University and the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurialism 31 2 Peking University and the Pursuit of Academic excellence the “beida Way” 62 3 internationalization of Academic Life and the Changing Face of Renmin University 90 4 China’s ethnic diversity and the Critical Role of Minzu University 124 Conclusion Achievements and Challenges in the Quest to build Leading Universities 155 Notes 181 Bibliography 187 Contributors 199 Index 201 This page intentionally left blank Foreword throughout the West, knowledge and understanding of Chinese higher educa- tion, and specifically of the Chinese research university, have been somewhat limited over the years. this is in part a consequence of language and cultural dif- ferences but also a reflection of the diverse political and ideological trajectories of the leading nations of the world. today, China increasingly finds itself at the center of a host of complex and far-reaching processes intersecting the cultural, economic, and political spheres. these intersecting processes are producing an increasingly interconnected world stage, often described in terms of globaliza- tion. such global processes, of course, implicate the university, which takes on increasing prominence in the context of a world economy more and more tied to the production and application of knowledge. this is no less true in such leading nations as germany, the United Kingdom, and the United states than in China. the authors of this volume call the world’s attention to this changing landscape and China’s growing role in global higher education. no other book, to my knowledge, available in the english language captures the richness and depth of the challenges and opportunities facing our nation’s top universities and their quest to enhance research and further internationalize their basic practices, including in the area of faculty life. the four universities highlighted in this book are all critical to the national push to build world-class universities, each in a unique way. Certainly, Peking, tsinghua, and Renmin have played and continue to play leading roles in defining and shaping the research university ideal in China. Peking is recognized throughout China for its history of independent thought; tsinghua is known as the leading Chinese university in the area of applied science and university-industry innovation; and Renmin is recognized for its service to the government and the broader society, most notably exhibiting vast expertise in the areas of finance, management, international affairs, and law, among others. Minzu University, as the authors of this work compellingly argue, occupies a special position in China’s higher education landscape, being the key university in service to the nation’s ethnic viii Foreword affairs vision. this role is critical to the further development of a nation as ethni- cally diverse as China. the authors of China’s Rising Research Universities provide a depth of descrip- tion and explanation through the use of the case study method—perhaps the best way of capturing the complex array of processes operating at an institu- tional level. Certainly, the opportunity to forge a new, more internationalized vision of the Chinese university is at hand, and the authors offer numerous examples to support such a transformation. in all of the cases noted in the book, the role of internationalization in shaping the nature of the faculty life and work is clearly and powerfully presented. Also, the emphasis placed on the develop- ment of research capacity—captured best by the authors’ focus on Project 985 funding—reveals the importance the nation’s leaders place on developing the productive capacities of leading universities, not only in terms of science and engineering but also with regard to cultural development. We cannot allow the world’s best universities to be evaluated only by the revenue-generating model of the research university. A vision of the public enterprise or the public good, emphasizing service to society, must continue to be at the heart of the research university ideal. such a university mission necessitates a certain level of commit- ment by national governments to funding universities in service to the people. Although the case study methodology is helpful in providing a depth of context, it is at the same time somewhat limited in capturing the complexity and diversity of the Chinese research university. China is a nation with a long history, vast lands, and a great population. the society is quite complex and diverse, and these characteristics are reflected by Chinese universities. though those universities are rooted in the same traditional culture and face some com- mon challenges, nonetheless each is unique. such differences are difficult to capture in a handful of case studies. Also, some claims are based on the authors’ own experience and may not completely agree with the perspectives of others. one of the most important values of a scholarly work is, however, not to con- vince someone of a particular point of view but to raise critical questions. this book certainly attains such an aim. China’s Rising Research Universities offers an honest and open take on the opportunities of global dynamics and national priorities, and it also explores some critical challenges to the development of the research university. For exam- ple, the authors note problems and complexities relating to such issues as aca- demic freedom, institutional autonomy, faculty promotion processes, and fac- ulty peer review. these are legitimate considerations as top Chinese universities move toward a more internationalized model of the modern research university. the authors also raise critical issues about the need for China to further develop research universities with an eye to the nation’s unique history and culture. balancing the forces of internationalization and standardization with legitimate Foreword ix pressures and concerns linked to China’s unique background is perhaps the greatest challenge before us. China’s Rising Research Universities captures this complex challenge like no other book presently on the market. Ji Baocheng Professor of Economics Renmin University of China President, Renmin University of China (2000–2011)
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