Development and prospect of world-class universities in east asia and beyond

Abstract

This chapter focuses on issues and debates on current development and future trends of world-class universities in East Asian countries and regions. World-class universities, also known as research universities, are regarded as a central part of any academic system. They are regarded as an imperative to develop a nation’s competitiveness in the global knowledge economy. The development of world-class universities is high on the policy agenda of various stakeholders across the globe, both developed and developing countries, but there remain ongoing, heated debates on to what extent does a developing country need such universities, how to build a world-class university in transition economies, and whether this trend reflects the nature of the global hegemonies in higher education. This chapter focuses on East Asia and provides an in-depth review and analysis from these perspectives.