Towards Sustainable Development of Chinese International Branch Campuses: A Spatial Perspective

• In Event: "Transnational Higher Education: Internationalization, Sustainability, and Student Perspectives from China and beyond"

Proposal

Sustainability holds significant importance in today's rapidly evolving world, as it encompasses the pursuit of long-term prosperity, environmental preservation, and ensuring the well-being of current and future generations within the limits of the natural world. In the context of Chinese international branch campuses (IBCs), developing sustainable partnership is crucial to ensure their enduring success and positive contributions. In this study, the author examines the strategies implemented by Chinese universities, aiming to address the following research question: why and how do IBCs engage with global and local partners, and what is the resulting effect and impact?

This study adopts a case study approach, obtaining first-hand data through in-depth interviews with twenty-two key figures from twelves universities. For selected IBCs are analyzed, namely Xiamen University Malaysia Campus, Global Innovation eXchange institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Asia-Pacific Graduate Institute, and Punjab - Tianjin University of Technology. Based on the theoretical framework of Global Integration and Local Responsiveness, this study analyzes the global and local characteristics of these IBCs throughout their school-running process from a spatial perspective, making explicit the linkage between spatial factors and sustainable development of IBCs.

The author posits the existence of four distinct types of IBCs: low global integration - high local responsiveness, high global integration - high local responsiveness, high global integration - low local responsiveness, and low global integration - low local responsiveness. Among these cases, Xiamen University Malaysia Campus exemplifies the low global integration - high local responsiveness strategy, demonstrating a strong adaptation to the local context. In contrast, the Global Innovation eXchange institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Asia-Pacific Graduate Institute, and Punjab -Tianjin University of Technology represent the characteristics of high global integration - high local responsiveness, high global integration - low local responsiveness, and low global integration - low local responsiveness, respectively. IBCs can better adapt to the local environment and enhance their sustainability by achieving a balance between global and local considerations while leveraging their comparative advantages.

The findings of this study are as follows: Firstly, the establishment of IBCs is closely intertwined with a country’s national power and their level of economic and social development. Secondly, IBCs tend to be situated in countries with high economic growth potential but limited higher education resources, often characterized by cultural similarities. Thirdly, the spatial construction and sustainable development of IBCs result from collaborative interactions among various partners. Fourthly, in order to achieve sustainability, IBCs should create a mutually beneficial environment that fosters a win-win situation, accomplished through the thoughtful selection or creation of appropriate spaces, as well as the innovation of curriculum, faculty development, scientific research, and school governance in school-running process.

Overall, this study underscores the significance of considering the global - local dynamics in IBCs, emphasizing the importance of strategic decision-making and leveraging resources to ensure their long-term viability and success.

Author

• Mo Xu, BFSU