World Class Universities: A Contested Concept

This open-access book explores the discourse of world-class universities, their characteristics, and policy expressions, offering insights into the historical background, current trajectory, and theoretical discussions. It includes approaches from various fields and examines the impact of global rankings on higher education systems.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 289 pages
Publication date: 25 February 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This comprehensive open-access book delves into the multifaceted dimensions of the discourse surrounding the concept of "World Class Universities," examining its purported characteristics, policy expressions, and historical background. It offers a broad and insightful overview of the trajectory of the world-class-university construct, while also delving into the theoretical discussions surrounding its pervasive use and abuse in the discourse of quality assessment. The book incorporates approaches and findings from diverse fields of inquiry, such as philosophy, media studies, sociology, anthropology, and educational theory, providing a multi-faceted perspective on the topic.

The increasing influence of global rankings and their strategic deployment in the restructuring of higher education systems to enhance global competitiveness has given rise to a "reputation race" and the emergence of the global discourse of world-class universities. This discourse has experienced rapid adoption in East Asian countries, with China recently refining its strategy. This book offers valuable insights into this ongoing process and its potential future developments.

Weight: 474g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811576003
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020