The Rise of Higher Education and Science in China
ISBN: 978-1-78714-470-5, eISBN: 978-1-78714-469-9
Publication date: 1 September 2017
Abstract
Purpose
This chapter provides a thorough historical overview of policies that have governed and guided scientific research in China since 1949 and illustrates changes in scientific publications that accompanied these policy reforms and programs.
Design
We divide this historical period into four stages, each with distinct R&D policies: (1) 1949–1955, a period of socialist transformation; (2) 1956–1965, a period of struggle for higher education and research development in a rapidly changing political environment; (3) 1966–1976, the lost decade of the Cultural Revolution; and (4) 1976–present, a period when major national policies have significantly promoted scientific research in China. We use the SPHERE project’s comprehensive historical dataset based on Thomson Reuters’ Web of Science and data from a set of research universities in China to analyze changes in scientific publication rates concurrent with these policy reforms and programs.
Findings
The analysis suggests a tight connection between national policy and scientific research productivity in higher education. The central government controlled scientific research through direct administration in early periods and has guided research activities through funding specific programs in recent decades. Due to their resource dependency on the central government, higher education institutions have been quite responsive to the common goals set by the central government. As a result, what is measured tends to be accomplished.
Originality/value
The chapter provides an in-depth description about the rise of higher education and science in China and produces recommendations for future development.
Keywords
Citation
Zhang, L., Sun, L. and Bao, W. (2017), "The Rise of Higher Education and Science in China", The Century of Science (International Perspectives on Education and Society, Vol. 33), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 141-172. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-367920170000033008
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017 Emerald Publishing Limited