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College Environment and Learning Gains of Chinese Undergraduate Students: Addressing Disparities between Ethnic Minority and Non-Minority Students

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Title: College Environment and Learning Gains of Chinese Undergraduate Students: Addressing Disparities between Ethnic Minority and Non-Minority Students
Language: English
Authors: Hua Bai (ORCID 0009-0001-0398-3837), Hongxia Liu (ORCID 0009-0003-4254-4284), Hongping Liu (ORCID 0009-0009-7246-8060)
Source: European Journal of Education. 2026 61(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Environment, Academic Achievement, Achievement Gains, Undergraduate Students, Racial Differences, Ethnic Groups, Minority Group Students, College Students, Questionnaires, Student Experience, Social Life
Geographic Terms: China
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: College Student Experiences Questionnaire
DOI: 10.1111/ejed.70515
ISSN: 0141-8211
1465-3435
Abstract: Recent reforms to China's college admission policies have increased access to higher education for ethnic minority students. However, these students frequently encounter distinct challenges stemming from their cultural backgrounds, language proficiency, and prior educational experiences. This study focuses on the achievement gap between ethnic minority and non-minority students within the Chinese higher education system. By analysing data from 19,637 undergraduates across 37 universities, this study used the Chinese version of the College Student Experiences Questionnaire to examine the influence of college environment on student learning gains and to determine whether the mediating effects of academic and social activities varied across ethnic groups. The structural equation modelling results suggested that: (1) a positive association existed between college environment and learning gains for both ethnic minority and non-minority students; (2) both academic and social activities partially mediated this relationship; and (3) the impact of social activities on learning gains was significantly less pronounced for ethnic minority students, thereby revealing a critical disparity. This study underscores the important role of college environment in fostering student learning and emphasises the necessity of tailored support mechanisms designed to address the unique challenges experienced by ethnic minority students.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506843
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: College Environment and Learning Gains of Chinese Undergraduate Students: Addressing Disparities between Ethnic Minority and Non-Minority Students
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hua+Bai%22">Hua Bai</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0398-3837">0009-0001-0398-3837</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hongxia+Liu%22">Hongxia Liu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4254-4284">0009-0003-4254-4284</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hongping+Liu%22">Hongping Liu</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7246-8060">0009-0009-7246-8060</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22European+Journal+of+Education%22"><i>European Journal of Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 61(2).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 11
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Environment%22">College Environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Achievement%22">Academic Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Achievement+Gains%22">Achievement Gains</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Racial+Differences%22">Racial Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethnic+Groups%22">Ethnic Groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Minority+Group+Students%22">Minority Group Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Questionnaires%22">Questionnaires</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Life%22">Social Life</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22College+Student+Experiences+Questionnaire%22">College Student Experiences Questionnaire</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/ejed.70515
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  Data: 0141-8211<br />1465-3435
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Recent reforms to China's college admission policies have increased access to higher education for ethnic minority students. However, these students frequently encounter distinct challenges stemming from their cultural backgrounds, language proficiency, and prior educational experiences. This study focuses on the achievement gap between ethnic minority and non-minority students within the Chinese higher education system. By analysing data from 19,637 undergraduates across 37 universities, this study used the Chinese version of the College Student Experiences Questionnaire to examine the influence of college environment on student learning gains and to determine whether the mediating effects of academic and social activities varied across ethnic groups. The structural equation modelling results suggested that: (1) a positive association existed between college environment and learning gains for both ethnic minority and non-minority students; (2) both academic and social activities partially mediated this relationship; and (3) the impact of social activities on learning gains was significantly less pronounced for ethnic minority students, thereby revealing a critical disparity. This study underscores the important role of college environment in fostering student learning and emphasises the necessity of tailored support mechanisms designed to address the unique challenges experienced by ethnic minority students.
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
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  Data: EJ1506843
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/ejed.70515
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 11
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Environment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Achievement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Achievement Gains
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
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      – SubjectFull: Racial Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Ethnic Groups
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      – SubjectFull: Minority Group Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
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      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
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      – SubjectFull: Social Life
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      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Student Experiences Questionnaire
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      – TitleFull: College Environment and Learning Gains of Chinese Undergraduate Students: Addressing Disparities between Ethnic Minority and Non-Minority Students
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            NameFull: Hua Bai
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            NameFull: Hongxia Liu
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            NameFull: Hongping Liu
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