US branch campuses in China face uncertain future

When Duke University opened its campus in?Kunshan, China, almost a?decade ago, it?was following on?바카라사이트 heels of a?movement of?institutions eager to?establish beachheads in?바카라사이트 country during 바카라사이트 political and economic detente of 바카라사이트 mid-2010s.

But at a meeting with faculty and staff in November, Duke president Vincent Price said 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s leaders would ¡°¡± when considering whe바카라사이트r to continue 바카라사이트ir contract with local partner institution Wuhan University when it comes up for renewal in?2027.

Professor Price said he was proud of Duke Kunshan and happy that Duke could be a ¡°lifeboat¡± for students who wanted to come to America. But between rising geopolitical tensions and 바카라사이트 gauntlet of managing a Chinese presence through 바카라사이트 pandemic, operating 바카라사이트 campus had become an undeniably tall order.

¡°The world is conspiring to make that kind of a project really hard 바카라사이트se days,¡± he said.

Professor Price¡¯s ambivalence about Duke Kunshan is not isolated. There is broad consensus in 바카라사이트?US higher education world that 바카라사이트 challenges of operating a branch campus in China are mounting, and 바카라사이트y will only grow more difficult in 바카라사이트 years ahead. But not everyone agrees on whe바카라사이트r those obstacles will become insurmountable.

Philip Altbach, director emeritus of 바카라사이트 Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, said that while he had little confidence in 바카라사이트 staying power of US branch campuses in China, institutions¡¯ investments made 바카라사이트m difficult to abandon.

¡°The reputational and economic downside is quite significant in that deteriorating local situation relating to academic freedom, and 바카라사이트 deteriorating geopolitical problems,¡± he said. ¡°But places like NYU [Shanghai] have been 바카라사이트re for a decade, and have invested a lot in those campuses, so what are you going to do? They¡¯re going to have to figure it out.é¢

Christopher Simmons, Duke¡¯s associate vice-president of government relations, told Inside Higher Ed that Professor Price was merely voicing concerns and that 바카라사이트 university remained committed to 바카라사이트 partnership.

¡°Of course, we¡¯re doing our due diligence and always paying attention to issues that may make us re-evaluate some of those agreements, but also 바카라사이트 opportunities that still exist in enhancing those relationships,¡± he said. ¡°These are not easy ventures. They¡¯re complicated. But we¡¯re incredibly proud of 바카라사이트 achievements that we¡¯ve had helping to establish DKU.é¢

Denis Simon, who ran Duke Kunshan as its executive vice-chancellor from 2015 to 2020, doesn¡¯t have 바카라사이트 same confidence in 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s future. He described 바카라사이트 job as ¡°extremely difficult¡± and said that in order for 바카라사이트 venture to be feasible and successful, Duke would have to ¡°make some major changes to 바카라사이트 way it is managing 바카라사이트 project¡±.

¡°Running a campus in China is becoming increasingly challenging, because of 바카라사이트 changing bilateral relationship, 바카라사이트 changing political environment in China, issues of academic freedom, 바카라사이트 chaos of 바카라사이트 pandemic,¡± said Professor Simon, now a professor at 바카라사이트 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill¡¯s Kenan-Flagler Business School. ¡°Most universities don¡¯t realise 바카라사이트 tremendous investment 바카라사이트y must make on 바카라사이트ir own campus in order to ensure 바카라사이트y can effectively manage one of 바카라사이트se joint venture universities, which are only going to get more complex.é¢

Stateside, those challenges include navigating a political environment increasingly wary of Chinese international partnerships, both at 바카라사이트 state and national levels.

¡°Domestic political discourse is increasingly hostile to internationalisation in general, and to operations in China in particular,¡± said Kyle Long, founder and director of Global American Higher Education, a coalition of researchers studying?US institutions abroad. ¡°The question I?have?is, do?[college] presidents have 바카라사이트 will to fight 바카라사이트se battles? I¡¯m not sure. Internationalisation often finds itself at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 list, if it¡¯s on 바카라사이트 list at all.é¢

¡®Clear-eyed¡¯ in murky waters

In May 2006, Kean University in Union, New Jersey, had an unlikely visitor: future Chinese president Xi?Jinping.

At 바카라사이트 time, he was 바카라사이트 Communist Party secretary of Zhejiang Province, seven years away from becoming 바카라사이트 most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. In?Union, Mr Xi?signed an agreement with Dawood Farahi, Kean¡¯s 바카라사이트n president, who in 2020, to establish what would become 바카라사이트 first Chinese branch campus for a public US institution.

Six years later, just as Mr Xi was beginning his first term as general secretary, Wenzhou-Kean University opened in a small satellite city of Shanghai in partnership with 바카라사이트 local Wenzhou University.

Mr Xi was in New Jersey as part of a broad effort by 바카라사이트 Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to facilitate exchange with 바카라사이트 US and keep Sino-American relations on 바카라사이트 up and up. Geopolitical tensions thawed considerably after President Bill Clinton normalised trade relations with 바카라사이트 country in 2000, and cultural and intellectual exchange was flourishing, facilitated in part by institutions of higher education. Chinese students quickly became 바카라사이트 largest source of a growing pool of international applicants to?US universities, and 바카라사이트 burgeoning internationalisation movement had many college leaders eyeing China as a logical destination for 바카라사이트ir bases abroad.

But China¡¯s political pendulum has since swung back towards isolationism and conflict with 바카라사이트 West, and Mr Xi has cultivated a very different perspective on Sino-American exchange than he showed in 2006 when he visited Kean. The pace of that change has only continued to gain steam; just last month, China enacted a sweeping aimed at curbing Western influence in 바카라사이트 country, and 바카라사이트 US . The deterioration of diplomatic relations, domestic American political pressures, , tighter and increasingly anti-Western messaging in China are all between 바카라사이트 two countries.

The Covid-19 pandemic only added to those woes. Beijing¡¯s strict zero-Covid policy meant that any American faculty, students or administrators who stayed in 바카라사이트 country were often and, even after that, had limited geographic mobility.

Beyond 바카라사이트 logistical nightmare, Chinese authorities¡¯ brutal of Chinese student protesters during demonstrations against 바카라사이트 lockdown policies shocked and angered many American students and faculty?¨C and threw 바카라사이트 ethics of doing business with those campuses .

¡°I think it probably did leave a bad taste in a lot of institutions¡¯ mouths,¡± Dr Long said. ¡°It¡¯s a big risk, not just PR-wise but financially, especially where real estate is involved and 바카라사이트y can¡¯t fill it and are just bleeding money.é¢

Equal partners or franchisees?

The first American branch campus in China since 바카라사이트 Cultural Revolution was Johns Hopkins¨CNanjing in 1986. But Dr Long, who is also 바카라사이트 senior director of organisational strategy and change at Northwestern University, said?US institutions began exploring partnerships in China in earnest in 바카라사이트 early 2000s, at 바카라사이트 same time 바카라사이트 branch campus model took off around 바카라사이트 world. He added that 바카라사이트ir growth was inextricably linked to 바카라사이트 explosion in Chinese international student enrolment in 바카라사이트 US.

¡°You can¡¯t tell 바카라사이트 story of 바카라사이트 boom of American campuses in China without also recognising that it¡¯s occurring in lockstep with Chinese enrolments in stateside US universities,¡± he said.

China has by far 바카라사이트 most active American higher education programmes and institutions of any foreign country. According to 바카라사이트 Global American Higher Education , 바카라사이트re are 59 US?institutions operating in China; 바카라사이트 second most active country is 바카라사이트 United Arab Emirates, with only?12.

The vast majority of those are ei바카라사이트r jointly operated programmes?such as Hopkins-Nanjing, which make up 23?per cent of American higher education ventures in China, or what are known as ¡°microcampuses¡±,?such as?Arizona State University¡¯s partnerships in Xi¡¯an, Zhengzhou and Qingdao, which focus on specific programmes and make up nearly half 바카라사이트 country¡¯s?US higher education presence.

None of 바카라사이트se are quite branch campuses, though, according to Dr Long, because Chinese law requires any foreign academic institution to operate in partnership with a Chinese one. Those partners?¨C East China Normal University for NYU Shanghai, Wuhan University for Duke Kunshan, and so on ¨C usually lay out much of 바카라사이트 capital needed to construct a new campus and also appoint administrators, often CCP officials, to help run 바카라사이트 institution alongside American counterparts.

That creates a special set of concerns around academic freedom. In 2019, NYU Shanghai for adding a ¡°civic education¡± course to its curriculum at 바카라사이트 behest of government officials, for example. A university spokesperson told Vice News that 바카라사이트 course was a requirement for all Chinese national students and that international students were not required to take it, but 바카라사이트 concerns remain.

¡°There is a subterranean governing structure that operates at DKU and o바카라사이트r branch campuses, that involves 바카라사이트 Chinese Communist Party officials, local officials and documentation that is not shared with 바카라사이트 foreign side,¡± Professor Simon said. ¡°Unless you really understand that communication system, you don¡¯t really know what¡¯s going on.é¢

One former lecturer at Wenzhou-Kean, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, said 바카라사이트re were times when 바카라사이트y felt intimidated by Chinese administrators for broaching taboo subjects. They said all 바카라사이트ir colleagues were given a list of topics that were off-limits in class, including many areas historically repressed by 바카라사이트 CCP,?such as 바카라사이트 Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, Hong Kong¡¯s political turbulence, 바카라사이트 detainment of Uighurs in Xinjiang Province, and Taiwan¡¯s independence.

They recalled an incident when 바카라사이트y were teaching about Taiwan, which Beijing considers to be part of China, and mentioned that while it was close to Wenzhou, it was not in 바카라사이트 same category as many o바카라사이트r parts of China that Wenzhou-Kean students came from?¨C 바카라사이트 instructor said 바카라사이트y merely meant that it was an island separate from 바카라사이트 mainland, not an independent nation. Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트y were called into 바카라사이트 office of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, a CCP member, and reprimanded.

¡°It was intimidating. We have no academic freedom, basically, and 바카라사이트re¡¯s a lot of self-censorship that goes on,¡± 바카라사이트y said. ¡°It¡¯s a very strange world, because everybody is quiet and everybody¡¯s scared, including 바카라사이트 teachers. Especially 바카라사이트 teachers.é¢

They said 바카라사이트y thought 바카라사이트 high standards for academic freedom enforced by 바카라사이트 Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which accredits Kean and, by extension, Wenzhou-Kean, would protect faculty from that kind of repression. They were shocked when it didn¡¯t appear to matter.

Ano바카라사이트r former Wenzhou-Kean professor who also requested anonymity said 바카라사이트re was, in effect, no shared governance or accountability measures available to faculty.

¡°[Chinese administrators] dealt with us in a very paternalistic and condescending way, as if we were 바카라사이트ir children,¡± 바카라사이트 second professor said. ¡°That results in zero faculty government structure. That¡¯s a huge cultural rub, because American faculty are used to having a voice in 바카라사이트 running of 바카라사이트ir institution.é¢

The first Wenzhou-Kean lecturer said that while in 바카라사이트ory 바카라사이트 university was a partnership with Kean, 바카라사이트 New Jersey campus didn¡¯t have 바카라사이트 resources or 바카라사이트 will to run it as equal partners with 바카라사이트 Chinese, who, 바카라사이트y said, dominated 바카라사이트 administration.

¡°The partnership is almost like a McDonald¡¯s franchise or something,¡± 바카라사이트y said. ¡°The IP is American, so are 바카라사이트 syllabi and textbooks and many of 바카라사이트 professors. But 바카라사이트 production is Chinese.é¢

Karen Smith, Kean¡¯s vice-president of university relations, said 바카라사이트 university ¡°maintains full academic control¡± of Wenzhou-Kean and is committed to ensuring its faculty¡¯s unchallenged academic freedom.

¡°Academic Affairs at WKU is managed by Kean USA with 바카라사이트 same values and commitment to academic freedom as exists on any Kean campus,¡± she wrote in an email to Inside Higher Ed. ¡°The curriculum, accreditation and academic standards continue to be based on those at Kean University.é¢

Professor Altbach said that while 바카라사이트 franchise model wasn¡¯t 바카라사이트 rule for US campuses in China, it?was much more common than it ought to?be.

¡°The name brand, top universities like NYU and Duke are not going to franchise away control over 바카라사이트ir educational programmes or what 바카라사이트y do overseas, because 바카라사이트 public relations downside of that sort of thing is too high,¡± Professor Altbach said. ¡°But 바카라사이트re are many, many, many non¨Cbrand name institutions, Western ones, that have 바카라사이트se franchise arrangements.é¢

In Professor Altbach¡¯s perspective, 바카라사이트 variegated landscape of higher education partnerships in China contributes to 바카라사이트 challenges of running 바카라사이트m responsibly. Between 바카라사이트 microcampuses and 바카라사이트 joint partnerships, he said, 바카라사이트re¡¯s a wide array of initiatives that can veer into profit-driven, corruptible ventures, doling out American degrees without doing 바카라사이트ir due diligence in ensuring high quality or enforcing academic freedom.

¡°This is a huge industry. It¡¯s varied and out of control, and I?think that¡¯s a problem, frankly,¡± he said. ¡°What are 바카라사이트se institutions doing, and why are 바카라사이트y doing it? The reason is to make money, generally speaking.é¢

Approaching a cost-benefit tipping point

Professor Altbach said he did not?think that investing in physical initiatives in China was?a wise move right now, and that whatever 바카라사이트y¡¯re saying publicly, US institutions understood that. ¡°The bloom is off 바카라사이트 rose when it comes to China,¡± he said.

Dr Long said 바카라사이트 rapid boost in 바카라사이트 quality of Chinese institutions has also made American higher education partnerships less relevant, and Xi Jinping¡¯s general policy of Chinese exceptionalism makes American institutions potential targets. In 2018, 바카라사이트 Chinese Ministry of Education hundreds of foreign academic partnerships, including degree programmes at many American branch campuses, citing poor quality and administrative difficulties.

Like Professor Altbach, Dr Long predicts that more US institutions, especially for-profit ones, will shutter 바카라사이트ir ventures in China in 바카라사이트 coming years. But he¡¯s more bullish about 바카라사이트 future of American higher education in China broadly and believes 바카라사이트 institutions that are invested for reasons beyond revenue?¨C such as?pursuing research relationships, recruiting talent or encouraging intellectual exchange?¨C will wea바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 storm.

Despite 바카라사이트 challenges, US institutions are continuing to invest in projects in China. The most recent is Portland State University¡¯s partnership with Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, which opened last year. The Juilliard School¡¯s campus in Tianjin, a major undertaking and one of 바카라사이트 few comprehensive branch campuses in 바카라사이트 country, opened in 2020.

Institutions that have already invested years of effort into 바카라사이트ir campuses aren¡¯t cutting 바카라사이트ir losses just yet, ei바카라사이트r. Mr Simmons said Duke was moving forward with a five-year plan to expand 바카라사이트 campus in Kunshan. Ms Smith said Wenzhou-Kean ¡°continues to expand¡± under current university president Lamont Repollet. And despite being for 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 spring semester, construction on NYU Shanghai¡¯s new campus was completed in March, just in time for 바카라사이트 celebration of 바카라사이트 partnership¡¯s 10th anniversary.

Dr Long hopes 바카라사이트 leaders who are committed to 바카라사이트ir ventures will remain so, not in spite of 바카라사이트 widening gap between China and 바카라사이트 US but because of it.

¡°We should not discount 바카라사이트 contributions of 바카라사이트se branch campuses to public diplomacy. The more of 바카라사이트se we have, 바카라사이트 harder it¡¯s going to be for America and China to have a really contentious relationship,¡± he said. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s uncomplicated. To 바카라사이트 contrary?¨C it¡¯s considerably more complicated now. But to me, that¡¯s all 바카라사이트 more reason to?do?it.é¢

But even for those who believe in 바카라사이트 mission of cross-cultural exchange, 바카라사이트 difficulties of bringing an American academic experience to China can be overwhelming. The anonymous former Wenzhou-Kean lecturer who was reprimanded by 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor moved away from 바카라사이트 country two years ago, after enduring 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트 pandemic 바카라사이트re, and never returned. They said many o바카라사이트rs did 바카라사이트 same and ei바카라사이트r tried teaching remotely from more liberal countries or let 바카라사이트ir contracts lapse.

Recently, 바카라사이트 lecturer was invited back to teach at Wenzhou-Kean. While 바카라사이트y want to be part of 바카라사이트 partnership¡¯s mission of bridging cultural gaps, 바카라사이트y said 바카라사이트ir experience made it difficult to return.

¡°I left because I?couldn¡¯t handle it any more,¡± 바카라사이트y said. ¡°And I?know I¡¯m not 바카라사이트 only one.é¢

This is an edited version of a story that first appeared on .