What Is Transparency of Higher Education in East Asia? Case Studies of Japan and China

Abstract

Since the early 1990s, tremendous changes have occurred in the landscape of higher education in East Asian higher education systems, including both Japan and China. One of these changes is the emergence of national frameworks of quality assurance (QA) of higher education and an increasing emphasis on transparency of higher education. Truly, western ideas and practices on shaping the current QA of higher education in the two countries are evident and considerable, but both Japan and China have formed their own national QA systems of higher education, including transparency instruments over the past two decades. Previous studies have suggested that very limited research has been conducted on the relationship of transparency or accountability of higher education with existing schemes of QA of higher education in the two countries and what role(s) transparency plays in QA higher education systems of the two countries. Much less is known of what main instruments are used to seek for or to enhance transparency of higher education, and especially what effects the transparency instruments have had on institutions and teaching & research activities, and students learning outcomes. The purpose of this study is to discuss historical background, major characteristics, issues, and especially effects of the transparency instruments of higher education in Japan and China based on the analysis of documentation, relevant findings from national surveys and fieldwork. This paper addresses three main research questions as follows: 1. What are the main characteristics of transparency instruments of higher education in Japan and China? 2. How valid, effective and efficient are the transparency instruments of the two countries in relation to management and governance of universities, teaching, research and learning activities, and academic productivity, etc.? 3. How significantly could current practices of transparency of East Asian higher education be applied to other regions, including European countries?