World-Class Universities

The Eighth International Conference on World-Class Universities was held in October 2019. The conference theme was “World-Class Universities: Global Trends and Institutional Models”.

The theme of this volume is embedded in the context of an ever-changing and complex world. Changes are taking place constantly in social, economic, cultural and political spheres, such as technological transformation, backlash against globalization and emerging forces of nationalism in various parts of the world, as well as increasing inequality and disparity of wealth, economic and social opportunities. These challenges impact global, national and institutional higher education practices and induce mounting pressure on World-Class Universities to respond effectively to the ferocity of social change.

World-Class Universities, commonly recognized as global research universities or flagship universities, are essential in developing a nation’s potential in the knowledge economy and in seeking conceptual and practical solutions to daunting challenges. This volume sheds light on World-Class Universities’ challenges, opportunities, roles and strategies in response to the changing landscape of higher education and our society as a whole. It is composed of two parts: “Global Trends” and “Institutional Models”.

Nian Cai Liu, Ph.D. (1992), Queen’s University at Kingston, Canada, is Professor and the Director of the Center for World-Class Universities and the Dean of Graduate School of Education at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Yan Wu, M.Phil. (2003), East China Normal University, China, is Assistant Professor at the Center for World-Class Universities and the Graduate School of Education at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Qi Wang, Ph.D. (2008), University of Bath, UK, is Assistant Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and research fellow at the Center for International Higher Education, Boston College.