A Journey Back to the Center: Asian Higher Education in Global Context

Abstract

Asia used to be a key site of academic innovation and scientific production in the history of human civilization. However, these great traditions have been gradually declining since the sixteenth or seventeenth century. Asian higher education, in a general sense, has been marginalized or left behind by emerging Western academic powerhouses. In accordance with these new regimes, most Asian universities—voluntarily or reluctantly—began to import or implant Western universities in lieu of local institutions. However, there is a growing trend since the 1990s in which this region has increasingly attracted a greater spotlight with novel and cutting-edge technology. In this chapter, we would argue that the new brand of Asian higher education is gradually returning to the center of academic knowledge production after a substantial immersion into Western values and systems. In winning back their traditional academic glory, Asian countries face a wide range of challenges, including dealing with cultural heritages such as seniority and guanxi (關係). Appropriate adjustments may have to be made in order to sustain and improve this return to the academic spotlight.