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Building a “Double First-class University” on China's Qing-Zang Plateau: Opportunities, Strategies and Challenges

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2020

Miaoyan Yang Open the ORCID record for Miaoyan Yang [Opens in a new window]  and
James Leibold
Miaoyan Yang*
Affiliation:
Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
James Leibold
Affiliation:
La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. Email: j.leibold@latrobe.edu.au.
*
Email: miaoyanyang@163.com (corresponding author).
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Abstract

Situated in the broader context of educational aid for Tibet and higher education reform in China, this article examines efforts to develop higher education in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Based on document analyses, observations and interviews, we interrogate the thoughts and actions of university officials in the TAR when responding to the state's call for the creation of “double first-class” (shuangyiliu 双一流) universities and disciplines. Our study identifies two main strategies adopted by university officials: capitalizing on the plateau's unique geography and China's system of preferential ethnic policies. University administrators hope to use the TAR's unique and strategic location as a springboard for curriculum and research development, while drawing on aid and assistance from the central government and partner universities. We conclude that the future of higher education in the TAR is highly dependent on external assistance and that the region faces an uphill battle in building a truly world-class university.

摘要

摘要

以教育援藏和中国高等教育改革为大背景，本文考察了西藏自治区（简称西藏）发展高等教育的努力。基于官方文件、观察以及访谈材料，我们详细探讨了西藏高校管理者响应国家建设世界一流大学与一流学科（双一流）背后的思考与行动。研究指出了他们的两种策略：充分利用青藏高原的独特地理优势和充分利用国家的少数族群优惠政策。一方面，大学管理者希望借助西藏独一无二的地理优势作为课程和研究发展的跳板。另一方面，他们又依赖中央政府以及对口支援高校的支持与援助。本文认为，在目前格局下，西藏高等教育的未来发展依然高度依赖于外部援助；它走向真正意义上的“世界双一流”是一场艰难之途。

Keywords

higher educationminority educationpreferential policydouble first-class universities (shuangyiliu daxue)Qing-Zang Plateaueducational aid for Tibet高等教育少数族群教育优惠政策双一流大学青藏高原教育援藏
Type
Research Article
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 244: Change, Contradiction and the State: Higher Education in Greater China , December 2020 , pp. 1140 - 1159
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Copyright
Copyright © SOAS University of London, 2020

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