Quality Assurance in Chinese Higher Education: Policy Reforms and Institutional Challenges
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71204/bngj5358Keywords:
Quality Assurance, Higher Education, Policy Reform, Quality Culture, Institutional Evaluation, Educational QualityAbstract
Quality assurance (QA) has become a central concern in Chinese higher education amid rapid expansion and reforms. This paper examines the evolution of QA policies in China and analyzes the institutional challenges that universities face in implementing these policies. The study situates China’s QA development in the broader context of global trends toward accountability and quality improvement. It reviews major policy initiatives—from the massification of higher education and early evaluation schemes to recent audit-based approaches—and evaluates their impact on university governance, educational quality, and stakeholder involvement. The findings indicate that China has made significant strides in building a comprehensive QA system, including national evaluation agencies and internal quality monitoring mechanisms, which have improved baseline educational standards. However, challenges persist in fostering a genuine “quality culture” within institutions, balancing government control with university autonomy, and ensuring that QA processes lead to substantive improvements in teaching and learning. The paper concludes with recommendations to enhance stakeholder engagement, strengthen internal quality management, and align QA practices with educational outcomes. These insights contribute to understanding how policy reforms can effectively support quality improvement in the context of China’s dynamic higher education system.
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