Revisiting the discourse of a Chinese model of the university

TLDR: The authors revisited the discourse of a Chinese model of the university and argued that the current characterization of Chinese universities is derived from a sociocultural ideology of Confucianism in semblance and legalism in essence.

Abstract: Driven by a sociocultural impact perspective, this chapter revisits the discourse of a Chinese model of the university. This discourse maintains the current characterization of Chinese universities is derived from a sociocultural ideology of ‘Confucianism in semblance and Legalism in essence’ or a Confucian-Legalist doctrine, which stresses capitalizing on statecraft or the techniques of ‘conducting affairs and handling men’ to optimize the effectiveness of reaching strategic purposes. Such strong instrumentality behind the scenes, rooted in the Confucian-Legalist tradition, proves a double-edged sword with respect to further development of Chinese universities: they are enormously invested in so as to directly and effectively contribute to accomplishing China’s ambitious state agenda for rising to be a global power while being rigorously controlled and politicized, and, even worse, drawn to utilitarian tactical behaviors. As such, Chinese universities that have impressed the world with the efficiency of simultaneously accomplishing mass higher education and seeking world-class standing may not warrant an alternative model of the university. Rather, a Chinese model rooted in orthodox Confucianism could provide a supplementary one with its meritorious features.