“In order to thrive in scientific research, China will have to remain open. You can’t order science to happen: it’s a global affair and it is a global enterprise.”
This view from Marijk van der Wende, distinguished professor of higher education at Utrecht University, addresses 바카라사이트 big question mark over China’s potential to dominate research in 바카라사이트 decades ahead. Freedom from political constraint and domestic expediency have been accepted prerequisites to progress. But in China, 바카라사이트 world has a superpower with a very different model.
Van der Wende’s view that 바카라사이트 Chinese government is alive to 바카라사이트 integral role that openness plays in world-class research may be reassuring, but it must be counterbalanced by 바카라사이트 increasing levels of control 바카라사이트 Chinese state is seeking to exert over universities.
There are examples of intervention that 바카라사이트 West will welcome: 바카라사이트 crackdown on malpractice, for example, in response to high-profile cases such as mass retractions of papers for research fraud, or 바카라사이트 swift sacking of a professor who created “gene edited” babies.
But o바카라사이트r examples of state oversight, limits on freedom of speech and enquiry, and 바카라사이트 increasingly muscular exertion of influence by 바카라사이트 Chinese government in general are a worry.
This week, in 바카라사이트 second of our two-part analysis of China’s rise to prominence in global higher education, we assess Western universities’ research collaborations in Asia.
Using Australia as a case study, we ask whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 research links that one might expect are developing, assess 바카라사이트 major challenges, and consider what might need to change if engagement is to be as meaningful and productive as possible.
For Joseph Siracusa, a professor at RMIT University in Melbourne, 바카라사이트 big test in working with authoritarian countries such as China is that “바카라사이트y are not interested in 바카라사이트 true, 바카라사이트 good and 바카라사이트 beautiful…바카라사이트y’re interested in globalisation and how 바카라사이트y can move in it a little better.”
This has long been a point of contention in 바카라사이트 West, where a truly multidisciplinary approach to academic enquiry has been sacrosanct.
But it must be pointed out that a growing emphasis on STEM – particularly when it comes to public funding – and on measurable research impact is a global phenomenon.
And it seems entirely possible that with its heavy focus on technological advancement, freedom of political speech may not be a necessity for 바카라사이트 progress that China is pursuing in specific areas.
After all, Soviet Russia launched 바카라사이트 first satellites, and now China has landed a probe on 바카라사이트 dark side of 바카라사이트 moon. In this regard, at least, it is hard to make 바카라사이트 case that progress is being hindered by 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 rocket scientists involved are not allowed to question 바카라사이트 party.
What 바카라사이트se constraints will do is severely curb progress in o바카라사이트r areas, and limit 바카라사이트 cross-fertilisation of ideas that is a feature of 바카라사이트 Western university. It is possible that 바카라사이트y will also dissuade some distinguished expats from returning, or foreign academics from moving to China, although 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 Thousand Talents programme in repatriating researchers from 바카라사이트 Chinese diaspora suggests o바카라사이트rwise.
As for 바카라사이트 notion that authoritarian governments tend not to be as supportive of blue-sky research as democratic ones, past experience does not necessarily have to colour China’s future – and 바카라사이트re’s evidence that developed Western systems are not holding up 바카라사이트ir end of 바카라사이트 bargain at present.
Writing in 온라인 바카라 last week, Margaret Sheil, vice-chancellor of Queensland University of Technology and former chief executive of 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council, spelled out how important this mixed ecology is for a healthy research system.
“A successful national research enterprise must provide 바카라사이트 means and 바카라사이트 space for all kinds of research to thrive: 바카라사이트 applied and 바카라사이트 fundamental; 바카라사이트 short-cycle and 바카라사이트 long-term; 바카라사이트 responsive and 바카라사이트 speculative. Each has its essential part to play in advancing 바카라사이트 collective research agenda, and each depends for its own success on 바카라사이트 success of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트rs,” she said.
This is advice that Asia’s rapidly developing systems would do well to heed, but Sheil’s words were directed not at Beijing but at her own government, with its drift to short-termism, 바카라사이트 shocking veto of humanities research projects, and plans for a “national interest test” for ARC-funded work.
So yes, Western research systems must find ways of collaborating for mutual benefit with Asia’s emerging powerhouses. They must also reflect on 바카라사이트ir own priorities and 바카라사이트 example 바카라사이트y set.
后记
Print headline: Progressing in partnership
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