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Humanities
- ISSN: 2155-7993
- Journal of Modern Education Review
Indigenizing Western Traditions in Chinese Universities: A Study on
Residential Colleges
Yulei Li
(The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)
Abstract: Western cultures are influencing the design of Chinese universities. The central focus is on how the educational ideology of Western college systems inspiring current practice in China’s universities. Based on the literature review on the Western college systems and residential colleges in Chinese universities, three aspects are identified: the criteria for the designed educational activities, the implications of western culture, and the application of education rationale. Semi-structured interviews are conducted with academic/administrative staff members and students to identify their perspectives on indigenizing Western cultures in Chinese universities. The findings of the study reveal that some of the participants are optimistic about the future of residential colleges, as they highly recommend building up a new cultivated educational course to meet the essences of Western culture instead of copying activities. However, many participants regard residential colleges as a different model compared to college systems because of the difference in the university structure. This study will contribute to theorizing the educational inheritance of residential colleges from the perspectives of administrators, tutors, and students. Researchers who work in residential colleges will find this study useful as it provides detailed
information about the theoretical inheritance that armies their practice.
Key words: residential colleges, western culture, educational rationales, Chinese universities
