Overview

Recent decades have witnessed the proliferation in China of huge numbers of private universities and colleges in response to a wide-ranging spectrum of socio-economic and political demands under the country's flourishing market economy and its wholesale pursuit of decentralization. This book explores the issue of property ownership, an area which is regarded as an essential element in the attraction into the sector of local private institutions and foreign partnerships, as well as in facilitating the future development of the country's existing institutions. The focus throughout this book is primarily on the legal, economic, managerial and financial aspects of the relevant issues, as well as other related topics, such as consumer protections and fund-raising activities. A feasibility analysis and discussion is also provided on 'for-profit' universities and their potential market niches in China, in recognition of the fact that the current regulations-which allow private universities to maintain a non-profit status whilst actually enjoying profit returns-clearly provides some legitimacy to the phenomenon of for-profit in disguise. It is argued in this book that such quasi-profit regulations may further exacerbate profiteering behavior, whilst it is also noted that, in the short term, there is a clear need to provide adequate protections within the apparent hybrid version of an ownership system-a system characterized by a mix of capitalism and socialism-through the adoption of a definitive legal framework within which economic actors can coordinate their efforts through a mutually understood framework of action. Finally, it is clear that in the transition from the rule-of-the-people to the rule-of-law, legislation, practices and compliance do not always go hand-in-hand in China; thus the healthy development of the educational sector will undoubtedly require some time, as well as the introduction of complementary mechanisms, for such legislation to be fully enforced in practice. This book concludes

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With one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, China faces many challenges in higher education, such as the supply of needed human resources, easing of social inequality, and building international recognition. Throughout the past decades, private higher education institutions have gradually become an indispensable part in the government's planning for education development. The book employs a conceptual framework of property ownership that incorporates historical, social, legal, economic, political, and comparative perspectives. It offers practical insights from in-depth case studies on various forms and localities of private universities and colleges in China, including foreign invested ones. It sheds light on innovative profit orientation in higher education system that is possible to take place in the future. Anyone interested in the private higher education market in China should find this book an excellent primer for understanding the field. This book is highly recommended for policy makers, researchers, education leaders and practitioners, as well as a broad range of stakeholders in the education sector, both in China and internationally. -- Mun Tsang, Professor of Education and Director, Center on Chinese Education, Teachers College Columbia University The Chinese system of higher education has rapidly become the largest in the world. But, the role and contribution of the for-profit sector in higher education is murkier. Spring Su fills this gap by clarifying the enormity and diversity of for-profit higher education in China and its potential for serving as a partner with public institutions in meeting national goals. For an international audience, this is the most highly informative picture of a dynamic and enterprising educational force searching for its role in collaborating to meet the Nation's ambitious educational aspirations. -- Henry Levin, Director, National Center for the Study of Privatization in Education, Teachers College, Columbia University

The Chinese system of higher education has rapidly become the largest in the world. But, the role and contribution of the for-profit sector in higher education is murkier. Spring Su fills this gap by clarifying the enormity and diversity of for-profit higher education in China and its potential for serving as a partner with public institutions in meeting national goals. For an international audience, this is the most highly informative picture of a dynamic and enterprising educational force searching for its role in collaborating to meet the Nation 's ambitious educational aspirations.--Levin, Henry

Author Information

Spring Su is a research fellow at the Wah Ching Center of Research on Education in China at the University of Hong Kong.

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