Geographical Stratification and the Role of the State in Access to Higher Education in Contemporary China

Ye Liu

doi:10.1016/j.ijedudev.2015.08.003

Geographical Stratification and the Role of the State in Access to Higher Education in Contemporary China

Ye Liu

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article extends the geopolitical theory on geographical stratification to understand the persistent inequality in access to higher education in contemporary China. Drawing on empirical evidence on the geographical distribution of institutions, and differentiated admissions and recruitment processes, I examine how political and institutional arrangements shaped opportunity structures in access to higher education for students from different geographical origins. I conclude that the state’s decentralized governance gave the eastern area more power and advantages while the students from the poor western and central regions suffered a lack of opportunities in achieving upward social mobility through higher education.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	108-117
Number of pages	10
Journal	INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Volume	44
Early online date	28 Aug 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2015.08.003
Publication status	Published - Sept 2015

Keywords

China, higher education, geographical stratification, the Gaokao, cut-off points, the quota policy

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10.1016/j.ijedudev.2015.08.003

Cite this

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abstract = "This article extends the geopolitical theory on geographical stratification to understand the persistent inequality in access to higher education in contemporary China. Drawing on empirical evidence on the geographical distribution of institutions, and differentiated admissions and recruitment processes, I examine how political and institutional arrangements shaped opportunity structures in access to higher education for students from different geographical origins. I conclude that the state{\textquoteright}s decentralized governance gave the eastern area more power and advantages while the students from the poor western and central regions suffered a lack of opportunities in achieving upward social mobility through higher education.",

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AB - This article extends the geopolitical theory on geographical stratification to understand the persistent inequality in access to higher education in contemporary China. Drawing on empirical evidence on the geographical distribution of institutions, and differentiated admissions and recruitment processes, I examine how political and institutional arrangements shaped opportunity structures in access to higher education for students from different geographical origins. I conclude that the state’s decentralized governance gave the eastern area more power and advantages while the students from the poor western and central regions suffered a lack of opportunities in achieving upward social mobility through higher education.

KW - China, higher education, geographical stratification, the Gaokao, cut-off points, the quota policy

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DO - 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2015.08.003

M3 - Article

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JO - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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Geographical Stratification and the Role of the State in Access to Higher Education in Contemporary China

Abstract

Keywords

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