Inequality in Chinese higher education and its relation to students' internal mobility

• Main Author: Yu, Qiumei
• Published: Birmingham City University 2015
• Subjects: 378.51
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.694384

Subsequent to the surge in China’s economy and its impact worldwide, higher education in China has correspondingly witnessed unprecedented development and growth. In line with the institutional policy of higher educational expansion, this research investigates whether this expansion, together with its associated educational reforms and institutional policies, has brought about notable equal opportunity in student access to tertiary education as called for by Chinese Marxist/socialist ideology. The primary purpose of this research is to address the absence of literature on university students’ internal mobility, in particular focusing on the perspective of educational equality or lack of it. It underlines the colossal internal movement of Chinese students prior to and after obtaining their first degree and how students respond to socio-political, economic and cultural factors. This research breaks through traditional research on the rationale for migration. It explores whether and how institutional policies have formed complete or incomplete free student mobility in China. Under such movement, it examines the variables determining Chinese university students’ internal mobility behaviour, using art and design students as a case study. Under the robust financial position and with favourable political support from central government, as well as its global influence, cultural and creative industries have been singled out to become publicly recognised as the predominant vehicle for China’s future economic growth. Exploring university students’ internal mobility and their choices in higher education and employment will help shed some light on the growth and success of regional economies. These in turn determine and to some extent shape the overall socio-economic shifts that are currently being witnessed in China. Furthermore, this research investigates the form of Chinese art and design university students’ study and learning experience. This is compared with the UK educational system and forms of delivery. The results are used to offer recommendations for achieving the required higher education innovation to educate the talent needed for the creative industries in China. This research has deployed multiple approaches, including action research. A design   practice project in the form of practice leading quandary is presented as the final section of this research. It proposes recommendations aimed at maximising higher institution’ marketing and communication pursuits and the effects that these may have on the recruitment of the most suitable students. The proposed marketing campaign also aims to underpin possible solutions for addressing aspects of inequality from the perspective of educational affordability, study experience and employability prospects.