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DOI: 10.15507/1991-9468.029.202504.645-665

UDC 37.014.3(510):81`42(049.5)

Institutional Response to Higher Education Reforms in China: A Content Analysis and Expert Survey

Azhar E. Serikkaliyeva
Ph.D., Associate Professor at the School of Transformative Humanities and Education of the Institute of International Relations, Almaty Management University (227 Rozibakiev St., Almaty 050060, Republic of Kazakhstan), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3704-5969, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jiayin Su
Ph.D. Student, Chair of Sinology, RSE on REM, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (71 Prospekt Al-Farabi, Almaty 050040, Republic of Kazakhstan), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9356-1778, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Gulnar E. Nadirova
Dr.Sci. (Philol.), Professor, Senior Researcher, Eurasian Research Institute Akhmet Yasawi University (48 Mametovoi St., Almaty 050004, Republic of Kazakhstan), Professor of the Chair of the Middle East and South Asia, RSE on REM of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (71 Prospekt Al-Farabi, Almaty 050040, Republic of Kazakhstan), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7837-2598, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Konstantin B. Svoikin
Dr.Sci. (Philol.), Head of the Chair of English Philology, National Research Mordovia State University (68 Bolshevistskaya St., Saransk 430005, Russian Federation), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3484-612X, SPIN-code: 8861-3727, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract
Introduction. Global competition is prompting governments in many countries to implement large-scale reforms to improve the competitiveness of their universities. In response, China is implementing long-term programs to achieve academic excellence, reflecting a unique model of educational modernization. Despite a significant number of studies on the issue of reform, their perception by the Chinese university community has not been sufficiently researched. The aim of this study is to examine the perception of educational reforms by university faculty and administrators based on an analysis of documents and expert opinions.
Materials and Methods. As part of the study, a survey was conducted among 68 experts representing universities, teacher training colleges, schools, and educational institutions of various levels, including central and regional organizations related to China’s higher education system. An in-depth interpretation of the results and verification of the identified trends were carried out through an analysis of regulatory acts and policy statements by the senior leadership of the PRC on the development of higher education. A content analysis was conducted to track changes in rhetoric in official documents from different years. At the final stage, empirical data were compared with the results of the content analysis, which ensured the integrity and validity of the research conclusions.
Results. The expert survey confirmed that many priorities of state programs correspond to actual changes in universities. Teachers and administrators generally give a positive assessment of the reforms that have been implemented. Key success factors have been identified: systematic implementation of state plans, strict control of education quality, and development of university infrastructure throughout the country. Respondents noted the importance of targeted government funding for leading universities and cooperation between universities and corporations. Among the practical priorities for change, experts highlighted the introduction of innovative educational technologies, the development of practice-oriented programs, and the expansion of international cooperation at the institutional level. The evolution of reform goals from a focus on foreign models and internationalization to an emphasis on domestic scientific schools and the ideological framing of education as a national paradigm is demonstrated.
Discussion and Conclusion. China’s experience of modernizing higher education represents a unique model that combines the strategic goal of achieving global scientific excellence with the preservation of national identity and strict centralized management. The authors’ conclusions contribute to the development of understanding of the institutional mechanisms of universities’ adaptation to state reforms in the field of higher education in China.

Keywords: Chinese educational reforms, Chinese universities, academic excellence, expert survey, content analysis, international competitiveness

Funding: This research was funded by a grant from the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Grant No. BR21882373, titled “Development of Scientific, Methodological and Conceptual Foundations for the Implementation of the Initiative of Academic Excellence in the Field of Higher Education And Science In Kazakhstan”, carried out at Almaty Management University (2023–2025).

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

For citation: Serikkaliyeva A.E., Su J., Nadirova G.E., Svoikin K.B. Institutional Response to Higher Education Reforms in China: A Content Analysis and Expert Survey. Integration of Education. 2025;29(4):645–665. https://doi.org/10.15507/1991-9468.029.202504.645-665

Authors’ contribution:
A. E. Serikkaliyeva – leadership and mentoring in the process of planning and conducting the study; development of the research methodology; carrying out the research process; activities for creating metadata for initial and repeated use.
J. Su – administrative management of planning and conducting the study; carrying out the research process; application of formal methods for analyzing research data; verification of the reproducibility of research results.
G. E. Nadirova – formulation of research goals and objectives; development of the research methodology; application of formal methods for analyzing research data; verification of the reproducibility of research results.
K. B. Svoikin – development of the research methodology; application of formal methods for analyzing research data; critical analysis of the draft.

Availability of data and materials. The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the authors on reasonable request.

All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Submitted 18.06.2025;
revised 25.09.2025;
accepted 02.10.2025.

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