Globalization or re-colonization : higher education reforms in Hong Kong
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Higher Education Policy
Publication Date
12-1-2000
Volume
13
Issue
4
First Page
361
Last Page
377
Publisher
Palgrave Macmillan Ltd.
Keywords
higher education reform, quality assurance, globalization, re-colonization, new public management, corporate managerialism
Abstract
Over the past few decades, the process of globalization had unquestionably caused a paradigm shift in the philosophy of governance. The shift from the welfare state to competitive state has enabled the government to rollback as a service provider and to control the services rendered by various service providers by “steering at a distance”. With the emphasis given to accountability, effectiveness, effciency and economy, the core elements of “New Public Management” or “corporate managerialism”, the public sector is now managed in line with such notions. Higher education, similar to other major public policies, is now governed by market ideologies and the corporate discourse of effciency and effectiveness. This paper discusses the theme of “globalization or re-colonization” by examining how three major areas of higher education reforms in Hong Kong, namely, teaching, research and management, have been affected by the global tide of managerialism. It is argued that instead of being “hollowed out”, states will continue to respond to globalization in different ways that ensure their ability to govern the public service sectors like higher education. The authors believe that if we solely follow the global practices and ideologies without developing our own unique systems, we would be entering an era of “re-colonization”.
DOI
10.1016/S0952-8733(00)00018-0
Print ISSN
09528733
E-ISSN
17403863
Publisher Statement
Copyright © International Association of Universities 2000
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Mok, K.-h., & Lee, H.-h. (2000). Globalization or re-colonization: Higher education reforms in Hong Kong. Higher Education Policy, 13(4), 361-377. doi: 10.1016/S0952-8733(00)00018-0