Skip to main content
Log in

Understanding University President Leadership Research in China: A Review

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Education in China

Abstract

This article explores the Chinese literature on Chinese higher educational leadership in order to contribute to the international literature generally and facilitate Chinese higher education leadership research in particular. The seven themes identified in this literature are: the president accountability system led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) party committee; leadership team construction in universities and colleges; the common characteristics of university presidents in China; the accomplishments of university presidents; the relationship between university development and presidents’ accomplishments the selection mechanism for university presidents; and the professionalization of governance and the professionalism of university presidents. Future research directions are also discussed in order to contribute the research in this area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brubacher, J. S., & Rudy, W. (1997). Higher education in transition: A history of American colleges and universities. London, UK and New York, NY: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryman, A. (2007). Effective leadership in higher education: A literature review. Studies in Higher Education, 32(6), 693–710. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075070701685114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai, Y. S. (2011). 简论科学发展的高校领导班子建设规律 [A brief analysis on discipline of university leadership construction in scientific development]. 学校党建与思想教育 [The Party Building and Ideological Education in Schools], (8), 72–75.

  • Chen, Z. L. (2015). 新时期高校党委领导下的校长负责制研究 [The president responsibility system under the leadership of party committees in universities in new period]. 国家教育行政学院学报 [Journal of the National Academy of Education Administration], (7), 9–12. doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1672-4038.2015.07.002

  • Chen, Z. Y. (2013a). 关于大学校长职业化的探究与思考 [Research and thoughts on the professionalism of university presidents]. 中国高等教育 [China Higher Education], (2), 16–18.

  • Chen, Z. Y. (2013b). 建设知行合一型干部队伍 办人民满意高校 [The construction of cadre troops unifying knowing and doing and building the university meets the people’s satisfaction]. 中国高等教育 [China Higher Education], (17), 19–21.

  • Cheng, C. (2011). 新形势下高校领导学习能力的建设 [Construction of learning ability of university leadership in new situations]. 中国高等教育 [China Higher Education], (24), 26–27.

  • Cheng, S. H., & Li, Z. W. (2015). 大学校长的立场: “学科型” 与 “学校型” 校长之辩 [Standpoint of university presidents: Discipline-oriented or university-oriented]. 教育研究 [Tsinghua Journal of Education], 36(4), 3–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dallek, R. (2004). Lyndon B. Johnson: Portrait of a president. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang, Y. C., Jia, D., & Xuan, Y. (2015). 专业化大学校长胜任特征模型研究 [A study on the competency model of professional university president]. 复旦教育论坛 [Fudan Education Forum], 13(6), 50–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng, Z. L., Qin, J. L., & Hou, J. C. (2006). 高校管理者领导风格类型探析 [On the style of leadership of university administrators]. 江苏高教 [Jiangsu Higher Education], (2), 40–42.

  • Fu, H. T., & Duan, Y. M. (2016). 略论如何完善公办高校党委领导下的校长负责制 [Discussion on how to optimize the president accountability system under the leadership of the Party Committee in public college]. 学校党建与思想教育 [School Party Construction and Ideological Education], (14), 66–70. doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1007-5968.2016.14.024

  • Fu, Q. L., & Chen, L. P. (2015). 论大学校长在我国大学章程建设中的角色 [On the roles of university presidents in the construction university articles of association]. 国家教育行政 学院学报 [Journal of the National Academy of Education Administration], (7), 27–31.

  • Geng, Y. Q., & Di, J. J. (2014). 从 C9 联盟看我国一流大学校领导团队建设 [On university leadership team building of the C9 league universities in China]. 国家教育行政学院学报 [Journal of the National Academy of Education Administration], (10), 77–83. doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1672-4038.2014.10.015

  • Gu, L., Ding, L., Hu, W., & Luo, C. Y. (2015). 基于胜任特征模型的研究型大学科研校长评 价体系研究 [Research on the evaluation system of the research-oriented president in research university based on the competence model]. 科技管理研究 [Technology and science management research], (18), 111–115.

  • Gumus, S., Bellibas, M. S., Esen, M., & Gumus, E. (2016). A systematic review of studies on leadership models in educational research from 1980 to 2014. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 1–24. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143216659296

  • Guo, J., Wang, S., & Ma, Y. P. (2011). 基于知识图谱的大学校长研究综述与研究热点分析 [Research summary and hot spot analysis of university president based on Knowledge Map]. 黑龙江高教研究 [Heilongjiang Higher Education Research], (11), 24–27.

  • Hamlin, R. G., & Patel, T. (2015). Perceived managerial and leadership effectiveness within higher education in France. Studies in Higher Education, 1–23. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2015.1045480.

  • Harris, J., Martin, B. N., & Agnew, W. (2004). The characteristics, behaviors, and training of effective educational/leadership department chairs. In D. C. Thompson & F. E. Crampton (Eds.), UCEA Conference Proceedings for Convention 2004. Charlottesville, VA: University Council for Educational Administration (UCEA). Retrieved from https://doi.org/static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/275549/9729745/1291751325097/04ucea11.pdf?token=sc%2Fa7vBr9pnXeP6JcRBLRzzW3eA%3D

    Google Scholar 

  • Hebl, M. R. (2016). Gender bias in leader selection. Handbook of demonstrations and activities in the teaching of psychology. Volume III: Personality, abnormal, clinical-counseling, and social, 3, 291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, B. C., & Cheng, Y. Y. (2013). 办学型教育家: 大学校长的职业追求 [Schooling educators: The career pursuit of university presidents]. 高教探索 [Higher Education Exploration], (3), 5–10. doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1673-9760.2013.03.001

  • Hu, W., Ding, L., & Gu, L. (2015). 试论大学校长的职业化意识 [Discussion on the consciousness of presidents in professionalism]. 江苏高教 [Jiangsu Higher Education], (1), 37–39. doi: https://doi.org/10.13236/j.cnki.jshe.2015.01.009

  • Jin, Z. Z., Wang, Y., & Zhang, Y. Q. (2014). 二级学院院长感召力研究 [Research on the charisma of dean of the second level Academy]. 高等农业教育 [Higher Agricultural Education], (4), 3–8.

  • King, J. E., & Gomes, G. G. (2008). On the pathway to the presidency: Characteristic of higher education’s senior leadership. Washington DC: American Council on Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Q. Z. (2016). 我国重点大学现任校长群体的特征分析与思考—以 “211 工程” 百所 大学为例 [Analysis and thinking on the characteristics of the current principal population of the key universities in China: Taking the “Project 211” as an example]. 高教探索 [Higher education exploration], (3), 34–40.

  • Li, X. G. (2013). 教育国际化背景下大学校长领导能力的建设 [On the construction of university president’s leadership in the background of education internationalization]. 教育 与职业 [Education and Vocation], (29), 24–25. doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1004-3985.2013.29.007

  • Li, Y. B. (2008). 中国特色现代大学制度与党委领导下校长负责制 [Modern university system with Chinese characteristics and the principal responsibility system under the leadership of the party committee]. 中国高等教育 [China Higher Education], (18), 7–10.

  • Li, Y. Q., & He, Z. W. (2015). “大学领导力与大学治理现代化” 高峰论坛会议综述 [A summary of the Summit Forum on “University leadership and the modernization of university governance”]. 探索与争鸣 [Exploration and Free Views], (6), 94–95.

  • Lin, T. J., & Chu, Y. (2011). 我国大学校长与书记角色差异的实证分析 [An empirical analysis of the difference between the role of the president and the secretary of the university in China]. 复旦教育论坛 [Fudan Education Forum], 9(3), 38–43. doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1672-0059.2011.03.009

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo, X. Y., & Zhi, X. Z. (2012). 大学管理哲学需要大学校长去建构 [University running philosophy needs university presidents to construct]. 现代教育管理 Modern Education Management, (12), 31–34.

  • Mao, J. Q., & Zhang, F. J. (2015). 高等教育治理现代化要求大学校长管理专业化 [Governance modernization on higher education calling for the professionalization of university president governance]. 教育发展研究 [Exploring Education Development], (17), 81–84.

  • McLaughlin, J. B., & Riesman, D. (1990). Choosing a college president: Opportunities and constraints. Lawrenceville, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian, H. Y. (2008). 党委参与董事会领导下的校长负责制初探 [The principal responsibility system under the leadership of Party committee and with the participation of the board of directors]. 理论导刊 [Journal of Socialist Theory Guide], (6), 37–39. doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1002-7408.2008.06.011

  • Qian, P., & Yang, M. (2016). 论大学校长的学生培养责任 [Discussion on the responsibilities of university president in student cultivation]. 教育评论 [Education Review], (6), 3–7.

  • Sergiovanni, T. J. (1984). Cultural and competing perspectives in administrative theory and practice. In T. J. Sergiovanni & J. E. Corbally (Eds.), Leadership and organizational culture: New perspectives on administrative theory and practice (pp.1–12). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press.

  • Shang, G. (2010). 论加强和改进高校领导干部学习 [On strengthening and improving the study of higher education leadership]. 学校党建与思想教育 [School Party Construction and Ideological Education], (14), 4–7.

  • Shi, X. Y., & Zhu, F. (2014). 大学内部治理的权责探析 [On the power and responsibility of university internal governance]. 黑龙江高教研究 [Heilongjiang Higher Education Research], (11), 50–53.

  • Stevenson, M., Hedberg, J. G., O’Sullivan, K.-A., & Howe, C. (2015). Development to learning: Semantic shifts in professional autonomy and school leadership. Educational Media International, 52(3), 173–187. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09523987.2015.1075100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su, L., Gong, J. L., & Luo, J. W. (2011). 论高校党委领导下的校长负责制 [On the university principal’s responsibility system under the leadership of the Party Committee]. 学校党建与思想教育 [School Party Building and Ideological Education], (10), 28–30. doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1007-5968.2011.04.009

  • Tang, J., & Chen, Y. (2012). 大学校长的遴选: 实践与思考—基于美国与中国比较研究 的视角 [Selection of a university president: Practice and thinking from the perspective of comparative research between the US and China]. 高教发展与评估 [Higher Education Development and Evaluation], (2), 26–31. doi: https://doi.org/10.14569/IJACSA.2015.060212

  • Tonini, D. C., Burbules, N. C., & Gunsalus, C. K. (2016). New models of hybrid leadership in global higher education. Educational Considerations, 43(3), 37–46. doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/0146-9282.1019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C. L. (2011). 高校管理干部的文化素养构成分析 [Analysis on cultural literacy composition of leading teams in colleges and universities]. 黑龙江高教研究 [Heilongjiang Higher Education Research], (5), 86–89. doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1003-2614.2011.05.025

  • Wang, D. H. (2015). 高校党委领导下的校长负责制: 内涵、 关系及完善 [The president accountability system under the leadership of the Party Committee: Connotation, relationship and perfection]. 思想理论教育 [Ideological & Theoretical Education], (1), 78–81.

  • Westmeyer, P. (1985). A history of American higher education. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie, Q., & Zhou, G. L. (2014). 我国大学校长选任机制的建构初探—从突破行政化藩篱角度切入 [On the construction of the selection mechanism for the university president in China: To change the administrativization dilemma]. 中国高教研究 [China Higher Education Research], (1), 30–33.

  • Xu, G. D. (2010). 我国现代大学校长遴选机制研究 [Research on the selection mechanism of university president in modern china]. 国家教育行政学院学报 [Journal of the National Academy of Education Administration], (6), 18–22. doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1672-4038.2010.06.005

  • Xuan, Y. (2015). 治理视野中的我国大学校长管理专业化 [Professionalization of president’s governance on the view of governance]. 中国高教研究 [Chinese Higher Education Research], (1), 26–28. doi: https://doi.org/10.16298/j.cnki.1004-3667.2015.01.04

  • Yan, T. S. (2010). 当代中国大学校长领导力研究初探 [A study on the leadership of contemporary Chinese University Presidents]. 国家教育行政学院学报 [Journal of the National Academy of Education Administration], (3), 3–6. doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1672-4038.2010.03.001

  • Young, M. D., & Skrla, L. (Eds.). (2012). Reconsidering feminist research in educational leadership. Albany, NY: SUNY Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y. Q., & Suo, K. F. (2016). 谁在做中国本科高校校长—当前我国大学校长任职的 调查研究 [Who are the presidents in China universities: From the survey on the presidents’ post]. 高等教育研究 [Journal of Higher Education], 37(6), 12–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, X., & Gao, D. Y. (2016). 章程时代公立高校领导体制的新样态 [Analysis on public universities leadership system new forms in charter era]. 现代教育管理 [Modern Education Management], (5), 53–58. doi: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-5485.2016.05.010

  • Zheng, S. F. (2015). 关于党委领导下的校长负责制的几点思考 [Several thoughts on the president accountability system under the leadership of the Party Committee]. 思想理论教 育 [Ideological & Theoretical Education], (5), 71–75.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peng Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, P., Wang, X. & Liang, X. Understanding University President Leadership Research in China: A Review. Front Educ China 14, 138–160 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11516-019-0006-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11516-019-0006-8

Keywords

Navigation