Restructuring China’s adult higher education: an examination of the driving forces behind the reform

Abstract

China’s adult institutions of higher education have launched comprehensive reforms in order to meet the increasing demands for professional training. As in many other countries, reforms in the educational system in China have been driven by economic and political changes, and these changes have been determined largely by the needs of the market. In contrast to the common assumption that externally influenced reforms are often unwillingly accepted by the recipient nation, adult institutions of higher education in China have proactively and positively embarked on the reform without significant external imposition of policy from international organisations. However, global trends of reform in higher education have also influenced the recent restructuring and development of adult higher education in China.

Keywords:

• adult higher education
• continuing and professional education
• globalisation
• education reforms
• China

Acknowledgements

The author would like to express his appreciation to Professor Michael Crossley for his support and advice in writing this paper.