China has recently placed critical focus on working toward creating universities equal to Western colleges in order to become even more economically lucrative.
But until China stops suppressing its citizens with censorship, the country will never succeed.
The Communist Party of China uses censorship as a tool to prevent political dissent, according to USA Today.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, “Senior Fellow Elizabeth C. Economy says the Chinese government is in a state of ‘schizophrenia’ about media policy as it ‘goes back and forth, testing the line, knowing they need press freedom — and the information it provides — but worried about opening the door to the type of freedoms that could lead to the regime’s downfall.’”
Under their constitution, China’s citizens have freedom of speech and press, but the laws can be vague.
In 2007, Zhang Ming was fired from his position as dean of political sciences at Renmin University of China.
In a blog rant, Ming said he was told he was being punished “for bold remarks on academic freedom and berated the country’s higher education woes on the Internet,” and for breaking “hidden rules” according to Reuters.com.
Punishment for breaking these “hidden rules” ranges from fines to imprisonment.
Mainly because of fear, many censor themselves. Even Google produced a censored version of its search engine in 2006 to appease Chinese officials.
This is not to say censorship doesn’t exist everywhere, because in one form or another it does. But to establish a world-class university, it is fundamental for students and teachers to be able to speak their minds freely.
China has proven that they are on the brink of creating world-class universities — and American students are eager to be a part of them.
According to last year’s Open Doors 2008 report on International Educational Exchange, “The number of Americans studying in China increased by 25 percent” from the 2005-06 to the 2006-07 school year.
Universities in the U.S. are creating programs to meet the demand. In an ASU study abroad program, “The Roaring Dragon: Social, Cultural, and Environmental Change in China,” the prospective study abroad student is tempted by the idea of being witness to the “rapid social, technological, and environmental change” of China in the new millennium.
China has now become the fifth leading host destination in the world to study abroad students because of the increase in English language programs, scholarship offerings and heavy recruiting, according to The New York Times.
China has adept native and foreign students and teachers and a proper budget. But according to World Bank economist Jamil Salmi’s definition of what makes a university great, they are missing a third factor.
Salmi said world-class universities must possess: “A high concentration of talented teachers, researchers and students … sizable budgets … [and] a combination of freedom, autonomy and leadership.”
Salmi also said, “World-class universities thrive in an environment that fosters competitiveness, unrestrained scientific inquiry, critical thinking, innovation and creativity.”
In the end, China must weigh the cons of chancing a rebellion against its government with the pros that would be brought by the evolution of its universities.
