Front Matter Template
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Copyright by Chiung-Yao Ho 2006 The Dissertation Committee for Chiung-Yao Ho Certifies that this is the approved version of the following dissertation: China’s Higher Education Excellence in the Context of Globalization: The World-Class University Committee: James P. Duncan, Supervisor Norvell W. Northcutt Billy J. Franklin Michael P. Thomas, Jr. Gordon A. Bennett China’s Higher Education Excellence in the Context of Globalization: The World-Class University by Chiung-Yao Ho, B.A., M.A., M.S. Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Texas at Austin May 2006 Dedication To the memory of my father, Ta Ho, who instilled in me the drive to succeed and the love for life Acknowledgements This dissertation would not be possible without the encouragement and support of many people. My sincere thanks go to my dissertation committee. I am indebted first to Dr. James P. Duncan. Without his wisdom, guidance, and patience, I would not have been able to carry out the study. His erudition has been an invaluable resource for my learning. My appreciation to Dr. Norvell W. Northcutt, whose brilliant methodology made me excited about qualitative research. I am also grateful to Dr. Billy J. Franklin, whose immense knowledge and experience in international higher education inspired me to study globalization. Dr. Gordon A. Bennett and Dr. Michael P. Thomas, Jr. graciously lent their expertise and resources that enriched the content of the study. Several individuals also helped me during the writing of this dissertation. In the initial stage of the research, I was fortunate to speak to Dr. Weifang Min at Peking University. I am grateful for his generosity in sharing insights on the current development of Chinese higher education. My visit to Tsinghua University led me to meet Dr. Manli Li, who brought the 985 Project to my attention. My sincere thanks also go to Dr. Nian Cai Liu at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, who shared the proceedings of the First International Conference on World-Class Universities as soon as it became available. v I owe gratitude to my friends and colleagues whose support helped me persevere through the years. Anne Albarelli, who first suggested that I pursue a doctorate, showed me how to overcome obstacles. Vivian Kumler, a dear friend, always listened to my frustration and made sense of it all for me. Dr. Macarena Aguilar offered tremendous help and a sunny smile that cheered me up when I felt languid. Wendy Lamb, a brave and generous soul, helped me jump through the hoops. Dr. Charlotte Sullivan, always resourceful and patient, has given me invaluable advice and encouragement since I joined the program. Last but not least, my special thanks to Audrey Abed. My first year of study would not have been easy if not for Audrey, who kindly offered her lovely home in Austin to make my weekly travel something to look forward to. Finally, I am indebted to my family. My mom, Hui-Lan Ho-Li, has demonstrated what it takes to succeed as a career woman. Without her I would not have been able to come to the U.S. in the first place. I am fortunate to have Chiung-Mei, my younger sister, to share my enthusiasm for education. She was my sounding board when I wanted to bounce off an idea. Chiung-Ying, my older sister, provided timely help by urging me to move on when I stalled. My greatest support comes from my beloved husband, Ben Tang. He was, and still is, my rock when I felt vulnerable. I will always remember the night trips back from Austin where we shared ideas and hamburgers. Last of all, I am grateful to my dad, Ta Ho, who was a true believer of education. Even though he passed on more than a decade ago, he has never left me. I owe everything to him. vi China’s Higher Education Excellence in the Context of Globalization: The World-Class University Publication No._____________ Chiung-Yao Ho, Ph.D. The University of Texas at Austin, 2006 Supervisor: James P. Duncan Higher education systems worldwide are undergoing major restructuring to enhance their competitiveness on a global level. China, Britain, and Germany have announced major reforms to build elite universities in order to stay ahead in today’s knowledge economy. China, in particular, has invested billions of yuan to build world- class universities as a national strategy to meet the challenges of global competition. While the intention to pursue excellence is unambiguously clear, the definition of a world-class university is very vague and subject to various interpretations. Therefore, this study examines the major elements of excellence as perceived by China and scrutinizes the impact of globalization on the interpretation of the world-class university. The study describes and connects two different yet related phenomena, i.e., China’s world-class university aspiration and globalization. One part of the study describes the efforts and results of the 985 Project, which aims to build world-class vii universities in China. Specifically, the study examines Peking University and Tsinghua University, the two key universities which have received major government grants to enhance their quality. The other part of the study presents scholarly interpretations of globalization pertaining to higher education. In-depth analyses of the two systems reveal how globalization frames and shapes China’s interpretation of excellence. Using a modified version of Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA), this study relied on qualitative data collected from literature and documents. The researcher analyzed approximately 162 documents. Eleven key elements of a world-class university were identified, and an interpretation system, visualized in a mindmap, was constructed based on the relationships between the elements. To determine the impact of globalization on the idea of a world-class university, five key elements of globalization of higher education were identified, and a mindmap was built accordingly. Comparisons of the mindmaps yield underlying threads across the two systems. Findings of the study shed light on the meaning of excellence in a contemporary and broader context and reveal the approach China has taken to enhance national competitiveness. The implications of globalization on worldwide higher education are also examined. viii Table of Contents List of Tables ........................................................................................................xv List of Figures..................................................................................................... xvii List of Illustrations.................................................................................................xx Chapter 1 Introduction ...........................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem ...............................................................................8 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................11 Research Questions ......................................................................................12 General Methodology ...................................................................................12 Organization of the Study ............................................................................15 Limitations of the Study ...............................................................................15 Significance of the Study .............................................................................17 Chapter 2 Literature Review ................................................................................18 Historic Perspective of Chinese Higher Education ......................................18 Higher Education before the 19th Century ..........................................19 Modern Universities ............................................................................20 Globalization of Higher Education ..............................................................26 The World-Class University .........................................................................33 Conclusion ....................................................................................................40 Chapter 3 Research Method and Procedures .......................................................43 Interactive Qualitative Analysis ...................................................................44 Subject of the Study .....................................................................................46 The World-Class University ................................................................46 Globalization .......................................................................................48 Overview of the IQA Research Flow ...........................................................52 Research Procedure..............................................................................52 Identification of Factor ..............................................................52 Silent nominal brainstorming phase ..................................52 ix Clarification of meaning phase .........................................53 Affinity grouping (inductive coding) ................................53 Affinity naming and revision ............................................53 Identifying Relationships among Factors ..................................54 Constructing the Group Interrelationship Diagram