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Privatization of Higher Education: Theoretical Underpinnings

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The Road to Privatization of Higher Education in China

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Abstract

Privatization has been widely adopted in recent decades, not only in higher education but also in other public service areas. This chapter aims to conceptualize privatization of higher education in the Chinese context. In order to illustrate the diversity of privatization practices in China, a broad definition of the term is adopted, which allows investigation into both privatization of public universities and the emergence of private HEIs. This chapter starts with a critical analysis of both Western and Chinese theories of privatization. It then identifies the key aspects of understanding and evaluating privatization in education. Kornai’s concept of a “mixed system” is used as a point of departure to capture the capitalist and socialist features coexisting in Chinese privatization (Kornai 2000). By doing so, it provides a guideline for the following chapters to probe the relationship between the government, market/society, and HEIs in the process of privatization of higher education in China.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    In Chinese: 民营、民办.

  2. 2.

    In Chinese: 社会化.

  3. 3.

    In Chinese: 非国有化.

  4. 4.

    In Chinese: 市场化.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Education Policy and Leadership, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, People’s Republic

    Li Wang

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Wang, L. (2014). Privatization of Higher Education: Theoretical Underpinnings. In: The Road to Privatization of Higher Education in China. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38303-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38303-8_3

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