Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Spring 2016 Inequity within Chinese Higher Education with the Focus on Henan Province Zhe Ji Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Ji, Z. (2016). Inequity within Chinese Higher Education with the Focus on Henan Province (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/701 This Immediate Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INEQUITY WITHIN CHINESE HIGHER EDUCATION WITH THE FOCUS ON HENAN PROVINCE A Dissertation Submitted to the School of Education Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education By Zhe Ji August 2016 Copyright by Zhe Ji 2016 INEQUITY WITHIN CHINESE HIGHER EDUCATION WITH THE FOCUS ON HENAN PROVINCE By Zhe Ji Approved February 15, 2016 _______________________________ _______________________________ Connie M. Moss, Ed.D. Ann X. Huang, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Associate Professor, Department of Educational Department of Counseling, Foundations & Leadership, Psychology and Special Education, Duquesne University Duquesne University (Committee Chair) (Committee Member) _______________________________ Helga Stokes, Ed.D. Adjunct Faculty, Department of Educational Foundations & Leadership, Duquesne University (Committee Member) iii ABSTRACT INEQUITY WITHIN CHINESE HIGHER EDUCATION WITH THE FOCUS ON HENAN PROVINCE By Zhe Ji August 2016 Dissertation supervised by Connie M. Moss, Ed.D. The purpose of this study is to examine the perceptions of students from China’s Henan province regarding inequities they experience in the Chinese higher education system based solely on their geography. Henan students are required to score higher than students from other provinces on the Chinese National College Entrance Examinations (NCEE) in order to apply for admission into Chinese top tier universities. Yet despite having higher scores than their peers from other provinces and meeting all admissions requirements, Henan students have little guarantee of admission. The study systematically reviews the history of the Chinese higher education system to contextualize the impact of current NCEE policies and procedures. The perceptions of six Henan students currently studying in the top tiered iv Chinese University were gathered using qualitative interviews and explored for commonalities and differences. The students’ responses reveal a range of feelings from anger to acceptance, and even gratitude for the ways the inequities impacted their lives. This work increases our understanding of the link between geography and access to Chinese top tiered university and the effects of that link on students from Henan province. v DEDICATION To my parents who always encourage and support my educational endeavors in the United States. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First and foremost I would like to deeply thank my parents for all of their love and support. As single child and the first generation in college, I would never have been able to achieve the academic success and accomplishments without my mom and my dad. I would like also like to express my deepest gratitude to my “American Mom”, my master degree advisor, and my dissertation chair Dr. Connie M. Moss for her guidance, support, caring, patience, and vast knowledge. Dr. Moss has provided me with an excellent atmosphere for doing research. I am also thankful to the members of my committee Dr. Helga Strokes and Dr. Ann Huang for their insightful comments, constructive criticisms, and unwavering support. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ........................................................................................................................ iv Dedication .................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgement ...................................................................................................... vii List of Figures .............................................................................................................. xi Chapter 1 ........................................................................................................................1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem of Practice and Importance of the Study ..............................2 Statement of Purpose .....................................................................................................3 Research Questions to be Answered ..............................................................................4 History of Chinese Higher Education ............................................................................5 The Imperial Period and Civil Examinations.................................................................6 The Content and Process for the Civil Service Exam ..................................................11 Civil Service Exam Determinates of Success ..............................................................15 The Revolution and Reform of the Chinese Higher Education System ......................19 Policy Reform and Its Impact Post-1949 .....................................................................22 Introduction of the National College Entrance Examination .......................................25 The Importance and purpose of the National College Entrance Exams ......................26 The Types of the Chinese National College Entrance Exam .......................................27 The Impact of the Chinese National College Entrance Exam .....................................30 The Inequity of Higher Education as Impacted by Testing .........................................34 viii Chapter 2 ......................................................................................................................36 Introduction of the Henan Province .............................................................................36 Introduction of Project “985” and “211” .....................................................................36 Lack of Educational Resources. Equity, and Social Justice in Henan Province ..........39 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................41 Inequity in the Current National College Entrance Exam’s Implementation ..............46 Perceived Equality in Current Higher Education.........................................................47 Unfairness as It Relates to the Physical Distribution of Resources .............................48 Inequities in Admission Policies ..................................................................................52 The Consequences of Inequity .....................................................................................55 Considering Next Step .................................................................................................58 Chapter 3 ......................................................................................................................61 Research Question .......................................................................................................61 Purpose and Significance of the Study ........................................................................61 Methodology ................................................................................................................62 Research Design and Procedures .................................................................................65 Instruments ...................................................................................................................65 Sample Selection and Size ...........................................................................................66 Collection and Data and Method of Data Analysis .....................................................66 Chapter 4 ......................................................................................................................67 Research Question .......................................................................................................67 Purpose and Significance of the Study ........................................................................67 ix Analysis of Cases by Participant..................................................................................68 Comparison of Cases by Questions .............................................................................75 Summary and Conclusion ............................................................................................81 Limitations ...................................................................................................................86 Future Consideration ....................................................................................................88 References ....................................................................................................................90 Appendix ....................................................................................................................110 x LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1 ..........................................................................................................................9