From Key Distribution to Moderate Equilibrium: A Study on the Objectives and Strategies for the Restructuring of Higher Education Layouts within Urban Agglomerations in China

Abstract

The present stage witnesses China embarking on a new stage of integrated and systematic restructuring of higher education within urban agglomerations. At the new developmental stage, China’s restructuring of higher education layouts within urban agglomerations encounters opportunities, such as more explicit national policy orientations and significant enhancements in the country’s comprehensive strength, competitiveness, and global influence. Concurrently, it confronts challenges including pronounced regional discrepancies in higher education layouts, demanding structural reforms necessitated by digital transformation, and an urgent need to elevate levels of independent talent cultivation while addressing locale-constrained development due to outdated higher education administrative mechanisms. Based on this, it is essential for China to clarify the characteristics defining the restructuring of higher education layouts within urban agglomerations. Systematic target designs are recommended to be conducted adhering to goals of expanding the foundation, optimizing the main structure, and fortifying the apex, thereby transitioning strategically from a focus on prioritized layouts toward a well-balanced and proportionate development strategy. Specifically, this study identified the following key initiatives: (1) scientifically planning the reconstructuring of regional higher education layouts while endorsing evidence-based governmental decision-making at all levels; (2) aligning with emergent trends in demographic structures and industrial distributions to establish innovative models for regional higher education systems; (3) adjusting higher education enrollment ratio metrics thoughtfully, reflecting trends in its universalization and localized emphasis; (4) leveraging the framework of 19 national urban agglomerations to develop stratified educational hubs; (5) fortifying advanced talent cultivation with a particular focus on nurturing innovation-oriented doctoral candidates; and (6) actively revising the structures of disciplines and programs to align with the evolving demands of socioeconomic progress.

Keywords

urban agglomeration / regional higher education / educational structure / layout restructuring / urbanization / universalization

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Higher Education Press