The Identification of Funding Options, Problems and Issues Associated with Sino-Foreign University Alliances

Abstract

ABSTRACT Many Chinese universities (there are over 1,080) have various forms of alliances with foreign universities to undertake the development and delivery of courses in China, participate in exchange activities, collaborate in research projects and engage in consulting programs. It is now quite common for these alliances to offer complete undergraduate and postgraduate foreign sourced degree programs in China. A key issue facing these alliances is how to fund them. This paper identifies a range of funding sources, options and strategies undertaken by Sino-foreign university alliances. These include accessing funds from Chinese State and private companies, charging higher than average fees for courses and associated programs, undertaking research and exchange programs to generate income, delivering courses and programs in a range of locations in China, offering a core range of subjects in a variety of modes to meet the needs of a number of client groups, and focussing on the development and delivery of world class educational programs capable to capturing the elite end of the Chinese education market. A key conclusion is that alliances tended to make use of a (sometimes complex) variety of options and approaches and that no one option was able to completely fund an alliance program. Some of the problems and issues faced by alliance respondents are also discussed, and these included the complexity of developing and maintaining connections and relationships with a variety of funding bodies in China, the difficulty of balancing the various needs and sensitivities of these bodies (some of whom were in competition), the lack of information on a range of possible funding agencies and bodies in China, and the difficulty of balancing the delivery of a world class educational program (which could be very expensive) with the amount of income usually generated from these activities in China. The research notes that if alliances adopt a range of funding approaches and strategies it is possible to adequately fund a range of activities including a high quality degree and/or postgraduate program in China.