Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

China in the Center: What Will It Mean for Global Education?

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Education in China

Abstract

This paper begins by reflecting on the significance of the 16th World Congress of Comparative Education Societies which was held at Beijing Normal University (BNU) in August 2016. Part I focuses on China’s experience in educational development since the late 1970s, and the support provided by organizations such as the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the World Bank, which facilitated the rapid restoration of China’s universities after the Cultural Revolution and supported a dramatic social and economic transformation. Part II goes on to profile China’s rich educational civilization and suggests that the normal university is uniquely suited to bringing that to a wider world. Part III overviews China’s programs of support for educational development in Africa and Southeast Asia, and suggests that these embody forms of dialogue and reciprocity that have the potential to open up refreshingly new approaches to educational thought and practice in the global arena.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Biesta, G. (2012). Philosophy of education for the public good: Challenges and an agenda. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 44(6), 581–593. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-5812.2011.00783.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bu, Y. H, Xu, J., & Deng, Z. Y. (2016). The new basic education and the development of human subjectivity. In G. P. Zhao & Z. Y. Deng (Eds.), Re-envisioning Chinese education: The meaning of person-making in a new age (pp. 201–212). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carnoy, M. (1974). Education as cultural imperialism. New York, NY: McKay. Cheng, K.-M. (2011) Pedagogy: east and west, then and now. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 43(5), 591–599. doi: 10.1080/00220272.2011.617836

    Google Scholar 

  • Chou, C. P., & Spangler, J. (Eds.). (2016). Chinese education models for global age. Singapore, Singapore: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curran, T. (2014). A response to Professor Wu Zongjie’s “Interpretation, autonomy and transformation: Chinese pedagogic discourse in a cross-cultural perspective.” Journal of Curriculum Studies, 46(3), 305–312. doi: 10.1080/00220272.2013.811702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curran, T. (2016). Huang Yanpei’s view of folk culture as a person-making tool. In G. P. Zhao & Z. Y. Deng (Eds.), Re-envisioning Chinese education: The meaning of person-making in a new age (pp. 148–162). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng, Z. Y. (2011). Confucianism, modernization and Chinese pedagogy: An introduction. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 43(5), 561–568. doi: 10.1080/00220272.2011.617837

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng, Z. Y. (2014). Confucianism, modernization and Chinese pedagogy: Continuing the conversation. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 46(3), 301–304. doi: 10.1080/00220272.2013.842612

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng, Z. Y. (2016). Rethinking and re-envisioning Chinese didactics: Implications from the German “Didaktik” tradition. In G. P. Zhao & Z. Y. Deng (Eds.), Re-envisioning Chinese education: The meaning of person-making in a new age (pp. 183–200). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elman, B. (1997). 再说考据学 [Re-comment on textual research], 读书 [Dushu], (2), 72–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galtung, J. (1976). Conflict on a global scale: Social imperialism and sub-imperialism–continuities in the structural theory of imperialism. World Development, 4(3), 153–165. doi: 10.1016/0305-750X(76)90024-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillespie, S. (2001). South-south transfer: A study of Sino-African exchanges. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gu, M. Y., & Gui, Q. (2007). The Chinese Comparative Education Society. In V. Masemann, M. Bray, & M. Manzon (Eds.), Common interests, uncommon goals: Histories of the World Council of Comparative Education Society and its members (pp. 225–239). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guidoin, R., Wang, L., & Douville, Y. (2015). Towards min the Canada-China relationship: The experience of the Department of Surgery of Laval University since the 1980s. Frontiers of Education in China, 10(3), 384–400. doi: 10.3868/s110-004-015-0028-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanban. (2016). 11th Confucius Institute Conference begins in Yunnan. Retrieved December 29, 2016, from http://conference.hanban.org/confucius/news-details-en.html?id=1955

  • Hartig, F. (2012). Confucius Institutes and the rise of China. Journal of Chinese Political Science, 17(1), 53–76. doi: 10.1007/s11366-011-9178-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayhoe, R. (1989). China’s universities and the open door. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayhoe, R. (1999). China’s universities, 1895–1995: A century of cultural conflict. Hong Kong, China: Comparative Education Research Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayhoe, R. (2006). Gu Mingyuan: Comparative educator and modernization theorist. In R. Hayhoe, Portraits of influential Chinese educators (pp. 262–291). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayhoe, R., & Hayhoe, C. (2016). Closing the circle: Reflections on past and future partnerships across the disciplines. In R. Hayhoe, J. Pan, & Q. Zha (Eds.), Canadian universities in China’s transformation: An untold story (pp. 297–310). Montreal, Canada: McGill Queen’s University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayhoe, R., Pan, J., & Zha, Q. (2013). Lessons from the legacy of Canada-China university linkages. Frontiers of Education in China, 8(1), 80–104. doi: 10.3868/s110-002-013-0007-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayhoe, R., Pan, J., & Zha, Q. (2016). Transforming Canada−China educational cooperation: Significant legacies and future challenges. In R. Hayhoe, J. Pan, & Q. Zha (Eds.), Canadian universities in China’s transformation: An untold story (pp. 3–34). Montreal, Canada: McGill Queen’s University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayhoe, R., & Li, J. (2010). The idea of a normal university in the 21st century. Frontiers of Education in China, 5(1), 74–103. doi: 10.1007/s11516-010-0007-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayhoe, R., & Liu, J. (2010). China’s universities, cross-border education, and dialogue among civilizations. In D. W. Chapman, W. K. Cummings, & G. A. Postiglione (Eds.), Crossing borders in East Asian higher education (pp. 76–100). Dordecht, Netherlands: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hazelkorn, E. (2015). Rankings and the reshaping of higher education: The battle for world-class excellence (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hsiung, P. (2016). Gender and development in CIDA’s programs: A reflection on the “doing” of feminist collaboration. In R. Hayhoe, J. Pan, & Q. Zha (Eds.), Canadian universities in China’s transformation: An untold story (pp. 275–296). Montreal, Canada: McGill Queen’s University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of International Education. (2015). Open doors 2015: International students in the U.S. up ten percent to nearly one million, study abroad by American students picks up momentum. Retrieved November 11, 2016, from http://www.iie.org/Who-We-Are/Newsand-Events/Press-Center/Press-Releases/2015/2015-11-16-Open-Doors-Data#.WCW6arfA7IU

  • Ke, X. L. (2016). Person-making and citizen-making in Confucianism and their implications on contemporary moral education. In G. P. Zhao & Z. Y. Deng (Eds.), Re-envisioning Chinese education: The meaning of person-making in a new age (pp. 116–129). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, K. (2014). China’s higher education engagement with Africa: A different partnership and cooperation model? In G. Carbonnier, M. Carton, & K. King (Eds.), Education, learning, training: Critical issues for development (pp. 151–173). Boston, MA: Brill-Nijhoff.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitano, N., & Harada, Y. (2016). Estimating China’s foreign aid 2001–2013. Journal of International Development, 28(7), 1050–1074. doi: 10.1002/jid.3081

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, J. (2015). When Confucianism meets Ubuntu: Rediscovering justice, morality and practicality for education and development. International Journal of Comparative Education Development, 17(1), 38–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, J. (2016a). Chinese university 3.0 in a global age: History, modernity and future. In C. P. Chou & J. Spangler (Eds.), Chinese education models in a global age: Transforming practice into theory (pp. 15–35). Singapore, Singapore: Springer

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, J. (2016b). Quest for world-class teacher education? A multiperspectival study on the Chinese model of policy implementation. Singapore, Singapore: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Li, J., Lin, J., & Liu, Y. B. (2011). Southwest University: An unusual merger and new challenges. In R. Hayhoe, J. Li, J. Lin, & Q. Zha (Eds.), Portraits of 21st century Chinese universities: In the move to mass higher education (pp. 221–243). Hong Kong, China: Comparative Education Research Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, S. X. (2012). China’s international aid initiatives and view of its role in global governance. Frontiers of Education in China, 7(1), 103–123. doi: 10.3868/s110-001-012-0006-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lucas, C. J. (1997). Teacher education in America: Reform agendas for the twenty-first century. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahbubani, K. (2015, April 15). What happens when China becomes number one? (video file). Retrieved October 21, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVkLqC3p0Og &feature=youtu.be

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazrui, A. (1975). The African university as a multinational corporation: Problems of penetration and dependency. Harvard Educational Review, 45(2), 191–210. doi: 10.17763/haer.45.2.h62846n66230j150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. (2016). 2015 年全国来华留学生数 据发布 [2015 data of international students in China published]. Retrieved November 29, 2016, from http://www.moe.gov.cn/jyb_xwfb/gzdt_gzdt/s5987/201604/t20160414_238263.html

  • Needham, J. (1978). The shorter science & civilization in China: An abridgement by Colin A. Ronan of Joseph Needham’s original text. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordveit, B. H. (2011). An emerging donor in education and development: A case study of China in Cameroon. International Journal of Educational Development, 31(2), 99–108. doi: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2010.01.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ogren, C. A. (2005). The American state normal school: “An instrument of great good.” New York, NY: Palgrave MacMillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Qiang, H. Y., & Wang, J. Y. (2016). Nurturing a leadership cohort for Chinese faculties of education. In R. Hayhoe, J. Pan, & Q. Zha (Eds.), Canadian universities in China’s transformation: An untold story (pp. 230–253). Montreal, Canada: McGill Queen’s University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seeberg, V., & Qiang, H. Y. (2012). Sustainable international cross-cultural collaboration: Transcending “brain drain” and “borrowing” models. In K. Mundy & Q. Zha (Eds.), Education and global cultural dialogue: A tribute to Ruth Hayhoe (pp. 227–244). New York, NY: Palgrave MacMillan.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Tu, W. M. (1998). Beyond the Enlightenment mentality. In M. E. Tucker & J. Berthrong (Eds.), Confucianism and ecology: The interrelation of heaven, earth and humans (pp. 3–21). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walls, J. W. (2016). Society, economy and environment: Minorities in the collaboration between China and Canada. In R. Hayhoe, J. Pan, & Q. Zha (Eds.), Canadian universities in China’s transformation: An untold story (pp. 190–210). Montreal, Canada: McGill Queen’s University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C. X., Zhu, B., & Gu, M. Y. (Eds.). (1982). 比较教育 [Comparative education]. 北京, 中国: 人民教育出版社 [Beijing, China: People’s Education Press].

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Z. J. (2011). Interpretation, autonomy, and transformation: Chinese pedagogic discourse in a cross-cultural context. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 43(5), 569–590. doi: 10.1080/00220272.2011.577812

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Z. J. (2014). “Speaking in the place of the sages”: Rethinking the sources of pedagogic meaning. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 46(3), 320–331. doi: 10.1080/00220272.2013.839005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, Z. J. (2016). Person-making through Confucian exegesis. In G. P. Zhao & Z. Y. Deng (Eds.), Re-envisioning Chinese education: The meaning of person-making in a new age (pp. 93–115). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, D., & MacEwan, H. (Eds.). (2016). Chinese philosophy on teaching and learning: Xue Ji (学记) in the twenty-first century. Albany, NY: SUNY Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, R. (2012). Internationalization, regionalization and soft power: China’s relations with ASEAN member countries in higher education. Frontiers of Education in China, 7(4), 486–507. doi: 10.3868/s110-001-012-0025-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H. J. (2016). A vision for one’s own life: Lessons from Hu Shi and Liang Shuming for education in China. In G. P. Zhao & Z. Y. Deng (Eds.), Re-envisioning Chinese education: The meaning of person-making in a new age (pp. 74–90). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y. (2015). China third most-popular nation for international students. Retrieved November 29, 2016, from http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2015-11/17/content_22478125.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, G. P. (2013). Introduction. Frontiers of Education in China, 8(4), 491–497. doi: 10.3868/s110-002-013-0033-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, G. P. (2016). Civilization dialogue and a new understanding of the human person: Implications for Chinese education as person-making. In G. P. Zhao & Z. Y. Deng (Eds.), Re-envisioning Chinese education: The meaning of person-making in a new age (pp. 165–182). New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, G. P., & Deng, Z. Y. (Eds.). (2016). Re-envisioning Chinese education: The meaning of person-making in a new age. New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, X. (2016). University program passes test by raising foreign student quality. Retrieved November 29, 2016, from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2016-08/29/content_26622346.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, H., & Ma, Y. P. (2011). New patterns in higher education cross-cultural learning: The case of a postgraduate English instruction program in China. Frontiers of Education in China, 6(4), 471–494. doi: 10.1007/s11516-011-0142-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruth Hayhoe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hayhoe, R. China in the Center: What Will It Mean for Global Education?. Front Educ China 12, 3–28 (2017). https://doi.org/10.3868/s110-006-017-0002-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3868/s110-006-017-0002-8

Keywords

Navigation