The Road to Privatization of Higher Education in China : A New Cultural Revolution?

This book makes both empirical and conceptual contributions to the debate on privatization of higher education in China. Empirically, it aims to fill a gap in our knowledge of privatization of higher education in North China. To this end, Beijing was chosen as a case for analysis, and nine local higher educational institutions were visited. The case study strategy is also complemented by an extensive review of national policies to reveal problems beyond the specific case of Beijing and of national concern. The effects of the cultural and socioeconomic background and the unique state-party controlling system on higher education management are stressed. Conceptually, most existing studies on privatization of higher education in China adopt a policy analysis approach, while research on privatization of other public sectors or in other countries is frequently guided by economic theories. This book thus seeks to combine both social policy and econometric approaches to provide a systematic and detailed investigation of the privatization process in the context of higher education. It also improves examines the applicability of western theories in the Chinese context. Contents 8 Chapter 1: Introduction 10 1.1 Privatization: Global vs. Domestic 11 1.2 Issues and Structure 13 1.3 Methodology 17 1.3.1 The Case Study 17 1.3.1.1 Survey 18 1.3.1.2 Interview 18 References 20 Chapter 2: Higher Education in China: Local, National, and Global Context 22 2.1 Introduction 22 2.2 HE in Mao’s Era 22 2.2.1 Early 1950s: Soviet Model and University Reorganization 23 2.2.2 The Great Leap Forward: Proliferation of Higher Education 24 2.2.3 Cultural Revolution: Interruption of HE Development 25 2.3 HE in Post-Mao China 26 2.3.1 Late 1970s to 1980s: Modernization of HE 26 2.3.2 From the 1990s: Globalization of HE 29 2.4 HE in Beijing 31 2.4.1 Beijing and the Jingpai Culture 31 2.4.2 The Higher Education Sector in Beijing 32 2.5 Conclusions 35 References 35 Chapter 3: Privatization of Higher Education: Theoretical Underpinnings 38 3.1 Introduction 38 3.2 Conceptualizing Privatization 38 3.2.1 Defining Privatization 38 3.2.2 Privatization in the West 40 3.2.3 Privatization in China 44 3.3 Privatization of Higher Education 47 3.3.1 Evaluating Privatization of Higher Education 48 3.4 Conclusions 49 References 50 Chapter 4: Implementation of Privatization: Scale and Scope 53 4.1 Introduction 53 4.2 The Private HE Sector in China 53 4.2.1 Emergence of Private Higher Education Institutions 54 4.2.2 Quality and Scope of Private HE 60 4.2.2.1 Educational Programs 61 4.2.2.2 Teaching Staff 64 4.2.2.3 Student-Staff Ratio 65 4.2.2.4 Availability of Facilities 66 4.3 Privatization in Public HE 67 4.3.1 Academe Responses 68 4.3.2 Market Participation 69 4.3.3 State Initiative 73 4.4 Conclusions 75 References 76 Chapter 5: Financing Higher Education: Changing Rationales for Funding 79 5.1 Introduction 79 5.2 Overview of Higher Education Finance 79 5.3 Exploring Financial Rationales 82 5.3.1 Efficiency Considerations 83 5.3.2 Resource Mobilization 84 5.3.3 Fiscal Relief 85 5.4 A Contingent Need: Liquidization of Savings 90 5.5 Conclusions 92 References 92 Chapter 6: Control and Regulation of Higher Education: Innovated University Governance 95 6.1 Introduction 95 6.2 Policies of University Autonomy 96 6.3 Academics’ Reflection on University Autonomy 98 6.4 The State’s Control Mechanisms 104 6.4.1 The Government 104 6.4.2 The Party 106 6.4.3 New Strategies of Control 108 6.5 University Autonomy and University Identity 109 6.6 Conclusions 110 References 111 Chapter 7: Rethinking Privatization of Higher Education in China: Lessons and Impacts 113 7.1 Access and Equity 113 7.2 Rethinking the Privatization Policy: A New Cultural Revolution? 117 References 120 Front Matter....Pages i-viii Introduction....Pages 1-12 Higher Education in China: Local, National, and Global Context....Pages 13-28 Privatization of Higher Education: Theoretical Underpinnings....Pages 29-43 Implementation of Privatization: Scale and Scope....Pages 45-70 Financing Higher Education: Changing Rationales for Funding....Pages 71-86 Control and Regulation of Higher Education: Innovated University Governance....Pages 87-104 Rethinking Privatization of Higher Education in China: Lessons and Impacts....Pages 105-113