Reforming of University Governance in China: Findings from Tsinghua University

• In Event: Institutionalizing policies in higher education

Proposal

Background and Purpose of the study
It is the core focus of China’s current higher education reform efforts to develop a modern university system with Chinese characteristics and to promote university governance reformation. There is a general call for reducing administrative intervention. China's high-level research universities take the lead in governance reformation. Tsinghua University is leading China's higher education reformation. Thus, the Tsinghua is seen as a role model. Having this university as an example, the China’s Universities must take necessary steps to make a difference in its higher education reformation.

Research Questions and Theoretical Framework
The epistemological and political philosophy, it is derived that the essential characteristics and primary functions of the academic research universities include the combination of exploring advanced knowledge and meeting national strategic needs. It is believed to insist on the idea of academic freedom and faculty governance, accept the co-governance of stakeholders at universities, and understand mutual reinforcement between academic power and administrative power. However, the university governance must be dominated by academic power, and supplemented by administrative power. The core of university governance is the rational distribution and effective operation of diverse powers (Allen, 2010; Birnbaum, 1989, Corson, 1960; Bernbaum, 2003; Yuan Guiren, 2000; Wang Yusheng, 2002; Liu Xianjun, 2015; (Gallos, 2009; Zhao Zehu , 2012).

University governance is embed with faculty level governance. It is crucial to highlight the significance of faculty governance, and to highlight the leading role of faculty groups within the faculty governance. (Schoorman，2013；Tuchman，2015；Marc；1991；Glass，2010；Maassen，2000).

The role of representatives of administrative power led by deans including interactions and cooperation between faculty members and administrators are important factors that cannot be underestimated (Bolton, 1996; Gmelch et al, 1999; Ren Ming Ming, 2009; Favero, 2003; King, 2013). Furthermore, student participation in faculty governance are the concern that the researcher tries to resolve (Chen Xiangming, 2013).

According to the Chinese scholars, in order to achieve the goal of good faculty governance, the most fundamental thing is to clearly stipulate the way of power allocation and stakeholder participation through university charters and rules, to ensure procedural autonomy and scholars' participation in academic decision-making process (Liu Xianjun, 2015; Yuan Bentao 2012; 2013; Ouyang Guanghua, 2008).

Recently, some scholars have shifted their attention from the institutional areas to the cultural areas, highlighting the importance of human and cultural concerns. (Yonezawa, 2014; Li Hongxiu, 2013; Xuan Shaolong, 2012; Zhao Zehu, 2012; Ellenberg, 2010). All the above mentioned concerns provide new ideas and analytical perspectives for the study of faculty governance at the micro level.

There are several literatures on studying university governance. However, there are not enough literatures on studying university governance systematically and thoroughly from the perspectives of faculty and departments. Therefore, this research study comprehensively applies the governance theory, stakeholder theory, and organizational behavior theory. The governance structure and operation mechanism of Tsinghua University were studied empirically and analyzed in-depth from a school (organizational) perspective, focusing on the relationship between the school and the university, and the internal operations of the schools. The relationship between administrative power and academic power guided the whole process of analysis. The actual and appropriate models of governance in research-oriented universities were studied, and their characteristics and the applicability were analyzed. Finally, some countermeasures were suggested.

Data collection and analysis methods
In this study, archival data retrieval, in-depth interviews, and participatory observation methods were used to collect data. The faculties who represent the typical characteristics of Tsinghua University were selected as research participants. Their governance models and operational effects are deeply analyzed, and the faculty governance model with promotion significance is derived, and their adaptability of the disciplines is analyzed. In-depth of “one-on-one” interviews were conducted, which is then supplemented by focus group interviews and participatory observations. The target interviewees are determined by means of snowball sampling, including administrative representatives such as deans, party secretary; academic representatives such as chairmen of academic committee, teaching committee; democratic representatives such as chairman of student council, staff representative, etc. The interviews were semi-structured. The recorded interviews were analyzed immediately. In addition, follow up interviews were also conducted with the key interviewees based on the needs of the study.

Research conclusions
The results show that there are five modes of operation at Tsinghua University currently, i.e., the pluralistic co-governance model, the academic-led model, the administrative-academic coordination model, the academic-social interaction model, and the state-led model. Their formation has special historical reasons and they are applicable to different inherent requirements of the development of disciplines. The academic-led model reflects the inherent requirements of basic scientific research and the free and independent development of talent cultivation, and is applicable to the governance of purely basic disciplines such as mathematics, physics and biomedicine. The academic-administrative coordination model is a model that is generally adopted by most universities in the current higher education reform era. It has advantages of the coordination of administrative power and the autonomy of academic power. The academic-social interaction model is the product of the combination of the mission of world-class universities and the practical needs of applied disciplines. The state-led model (such as the Nuclear Research Institute) characterized by administrative command and centralized reunification is a special governance model, but there are reasons for its existence, which plays important role in the development of the country.

The study finds that the model of "academic-based, multi-stakeholders co-governance" is essential requirement of the governance of school at research-based universities, conforms to the inherent logic of modern university systems, and affects positively . It is an ideal governance model. However, it is necessary to point out that there is no one-size-fits-all ideal governance model. The ideal model is based on certain conditions. The connotation and extension of various governance models changes with environmental conditions. Therefore, while learning from the experience of the governance of other countries and other schools, universities should be handled with care and cannot be copied.

Authors

• Hongying Xiao, Tsinghua University

• Wenfan Yan, University of Massachusetts Boston

• Shengyao Jiang, Tsinghua University

• Jie Fu, Tsinghua University