Higher Education, State and Society: Comparing the Chinese and Anglo-American Approaches

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In this monograph, Lili Yang compares core ideas about the state, society, and higher education in two major world traditions. She explores the broad cultural and philosophical ideas underlying the public good of higher education in the two traditions, reveals their different social imaginaries, and works through five areas where higher education intersects with the individual, society, the state, and the world, intersections understood in contrasting ways in each tradition. The five key themes are: individual student development in higher education, equity in higher education, academic freedom and university autonomy, the resources and outcomes of higher education, and cross-border higher education activities and higher educations global outcomes. In exploring the similarities, Yang highlights important meeting points between the two world views, with the potential to contribute to the mutual understanding and cooperation across cultures.

Reviews

In the world of academia, intellectual pluralism is indeed comparable to freedom of speech. If this is to be achieved, more researchers need to become truly cross-cultural, and higher education is one of the first fields we are likely to encounter the integration of civilizations. This volume has done a great service. It prepares the author and writers of similar background to tackle such an arduous task and achieve really highly. It also facilitates epistemologically participatory research in higher education more broadly. * Rui Yang, Professor of Education and Associate Dean for Research, the University of Hong Kong, China *
Based on several years of research, this book is a careful and original exploration of two key cultural, educational, philosophical and political traditions underpinning distinctive configurations of higher education. It puts these traditions into critical conversation, whilst seeking shared horizons and linguistic keys for synergetic interpretations. * Alis Oancea, Professor of Philosophy of Education and Research Policy, University of Oxford, UK *
This book is essential. Presently confronted with the sheer necessity to view our ideas about society from different perspectives, we need this excellent proof that the young generation is capable of constructively bridging ideologies and cultures that underpin our ideas about the role of Higher Education. We need it as a basis for mutual understanding and for actual dialogue about the future of higher education in the changing global landscape. * Marijk van der Wende, Distinguished Faculty Professor of Higher Education, Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance, Utrecht University, The Netherlands *

Author Bio

Lili Yang is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Education, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.