Exploring institutional governance dynamics in China’s transnational higher education (TNHE): a study of Sino-foreign joint institutes
As China emerges as a prominent destination for international higher education, universities globally are forming partnerships with Chinese institutions. This article examines governance dynamics by assessing the influence of stakeholders who work between Chinese and international partner universiti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Education |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2450124 |
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| author | Huili Si Stephen Rayner |
| author_facet | Huili Si Stephen Rayner |
| author_sort | Huili Si |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As China emerges as a prominent destination for international higher education, universities globally are forming partnerships with Chinese institutions. This article examines governance dynamics by assessing the influence of stakeholders who work between Chinese and international partner universities, with a particular focus on Sino-foreign joint institutes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 such stakeholders to explore their perceptions of institutional governance. Grounded in organizational theory, the article applies Verhoest et al.’s (2004) governance typology and the indicators by De Boer and Enders (2017) to provide conceptual and empirical insights into Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) governance in China. The findings indicate increased autonomy for individual institutions in terms of governance. China’s Deanship and Joint Committee operations in Sino-foreign joint institutes, while continuing to integrate top-down decision-making, are incorporating transnational actors as the joint partners in governance and leadership, most notably in financial and structural governance. We also propose that resolving tensions for sustainable partnerships requires Chinese stakeholders to implement harmonious governance in TNHE partnerships, while international stakeholders should embrace adaptive governance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b25b945d2f8848dfa8462c62b2cfca14 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2331-186X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-b25b945d2f8848dfa8462c62b2cfca142025-01-11T16:46:26ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2025-12-0112110.1080/2331186X.2025.2450124Exploring institutional governance dynamics in China’s transnational higher education (TNHE): a study of Sino-foreign joint institutesHuili Si0Stephen Rayner1Manchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UKManchester Institute of Education, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UKAs China emerges as a prominent destination for international higher education, universities globally are forming partnerships with Chinese institutions. This article examines governance dynamics by assessing the influence of stakeholders who work between Chinese and international partner universities, with a particular focus on Sino-foreign joint institutes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 such stakeholders to explore their perceptions of institutional governance. Grounded in organizational theory, the article applies Verhoest et al.’s (2004) governance typology and the indicators by De Boer and Enders (2017) to provide conceptual and empirical insights into Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) governance in China. The findings indicate increased autonomy for individual institutions in terms of governance. China’s Deanship and Joint Committee operations in Sino-foreign joint institutes, while continuing to integrate top-down decision-making, are incorporating transnational actors as the joint partners in governance and leadership, most notably in financial and structural governance. We also propose that resolving tensions for sustainable partnerships requires Chinese stakeholders to implement harmonious governance in TNHE partnerships, while international stakeholders should embrace adaptive governance.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2450124GovernanceinfluenceinstitutionsleadershipSino-foreign joint institutesTNHE partnerships |
| spellingShingle | Huili Si Stephen Rayner Exploring institutional governance dynamics in China’s transnational higher education (TNHE): a study of Sino-foreign joint institutes Cogent Education Governance influence institutions leadership Sino-foreign joint institutes TNHE partnerships |
| title | Exploring institutional governance dynamics in China’s transnational higher education (TNHE): a study of Sino-foreign joint institutes |
| title_full | Exploring institutional governance dynamics in China’s transnational higher education (TNHE): a study of Sino-foreign joint institutes |
| title_fullStr | Exploring institutional governance dynamics in China’s transnational higher education (TNHE): a study of Sino-foreign joint institutes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring institutional governance dynamics in China’s transnational higher education (TNHE): a study of Sino-foreign joint institutes |
| title_short | Exploring institutional governance dynamics in China’s transnational higher education (TNHE): a study of Sino-foreign joint institutes |
| title_sort | exploring institutional governance dynamics in china s transnational higher education tnhe a study of sino foreign joint institutes |
| topic | Governance influence institutions leadership Sino-foreign joint institutes TNHE partnerships |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2450124 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT huilisi exploringinstitutionalgovernancedynamicsinchinastransnationalhighereducationtnheastudyofsinoforeignjointinstitutes AT stephenrayner exploringinstitutionalgovernancedynamicsinchinastransnationalhighereducationtnheastudyofsinoforeignjointinstitutes |