Inclusion and Exclusion: Textual Analyses of Preferential Admissions Policies in Higher Education of China

• In Event: 43.078 - MTCC Roundtable Session 16
  In Roundtable Session: 43.078-7 - Inclusive Education

Abstract

This paper examines various institutions’ preferential admissions policies towards rural students from impoverished areas, which is a response to the China central government’s effort to reduce the urban-rural gap in college access to prestigious universities. This study uses a document analysis method to analyze the admission brochures released by 95 institutions of higher education in 2018. Preliminary analyses show that limited college majors are open to applying high school graduates, with 24% of the universities limited major selection in science areas and another 30% of the institutions distributing major choices by provinces, making major selection double limited. The paradox of inclusion and exclusion confirms the political nature of educational decision-making and warrants further studies on the policy intent.

Author

• DongMei Li