View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

The Chinese idea of a university in flux: academic freedom and institutional autonomy under entrepreneurial reforms in the GBA.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: The Chinese idea of a university in flux: academic freedom and institutional autonomy under entrepreneurial reforms in the GBA.
Authors: Zhu, Jun-hua (AUTHOR), Yang, Rui (AUTHOR)
Source: Studies in Higher Education. Nov2025, Vol. 50 Issue 11, p2243-2260. 18p.
Subjects: Academic freedom, Institutional autonomy, Educational change, State power, Chinese people, Economic competition
Geographic Terms: China, Guangdong Sheng (China)
Abstract: The complexity of the idea of a university has been intensified globally as more universities pursue entrepreneurship. For modern universities in China as latecomers, contemporary entrepreneurial reforms are implemented against a backdrop of ongoing interactions between Chinese and Western ideas of a university, with the Western established as the formal system and the Chinese functioning informally yet powerfully. Through 71 semi-structured interviews at four universities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, this study explores how academic freedom and institutional autonomy are perceived by Chinese academics under entrepreneurial reforms. The study has two major findings through Clark's analytical framework of academic, government, and market forces: (1) A novel form of statist academic freedom is emerging, merging traditional Chinese scholarly values with state-driven entrepreneurial demands; (2) The adapted triple helix model in China emphasises competition and excellence, shaped by a unique blend of state influence and market dynamics. It offers a nuanced perspective on academic freedom and institutional autonomy amidst entrepreneurial reforms in China, highlighting a compatibility with Chinese idea of a university and a response to global entrepreneurial pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Studies in Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 189062479
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The Chinese idea of a university in flux: academic freedom and institutional autonomy under entrepreneurial reforms in the GBA.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhu%2C+Jun-hua%22">Zhu, Jun-hua</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yang%2C+Rui%22">Yang, Rui</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Studies+in+Higher+Education%22">Studies in Higher Education</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 50 Issue 11, p2243-2260. 18p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+freedom%22">Academic freedom</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Institutional+autonomy%22">Institutional autonomy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+change%22">Educational change</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22State+power%22">State power</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chinese+people%22">Chinese people</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+competition%22">Economic competition</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Guangdong+Sheng+%28China%29%22">Guangdong Sheng (China)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The complexity of the idea of a university has been intensified globally as more universities pursue entrepreneurship. For modern universities in China as latecomers, contemporary entrepreneurial reforms are implemented against a backdrop of ongoing interactions between Chinese and Western ideas of a university, with the Western established as the formal system and the Chinese functioning informally yet powerfully. Through 71 semi-structured interviews at four universities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, this study explores how academic freedom and institutional autonomy are perceived by Chinese academics under entrepreneurial reforms. The study has two major findings through Clark's analytical framework of academic, government, and market forces: (1) A novel form of statist academic freedom is emerging, merging traditional Chinese scholarly values with state-driven entrepreneurial demands; (2) The adapted triple helix model in China emphasises competition and excellence, shaped by a unique blend of state influence and market dynamics. It offers a nuanced perspective on academic freedom and institutional autonomy amidst entrepreneurial reforms in China, highlighting a compatibility with Chinese idea of a university and a response to global entrepreneurial pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Studies in Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=189062479
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/03075079.2024.2415381
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 2243
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Academic freedom
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Institutional autonomy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: State power
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chinese people
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Economic competition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Guangdong Sheng (China)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Chinese idea of a university in flux: academic freedom and institutional autonomy under entrepreneurial reforms in the GBA.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhu, Jun-hua
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Yang, Rui
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 11
              Text: Nov2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 03075079
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 50
            – Type: issue
              Value: 11
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Studies in Higher Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1