Contemporary Academic Degree System In China Tradition And Change

The academic degree system plays a significant role in the higher education system of China, displaying Sino-western cultural exchange in the sphere of higher education. The 20th century, especially the last 30 years has witnessed the gradual development of the Chinese academic degree system, which is now at the crossroads of reform—choices are to be made between elite education and popular education, practical education and innovative education.To provide an understanding of the idea of academic degree system and experience for its application, the dissertation analyzes both the tradition and reform of Chinese degree system from the perspectives of culture and system. From a cultural perspective, the Chinese degree system is a product of Chinese and Western cultural conflict, constrained by the dualistic-structure of the public and private education in traditional Chinese culture. From the perspective of system, the degree structure, degree authorization and degree awarding are all components of academic degree system. The degree application system, thesis oral defense system, and degree awarding system are also rich in cultural significance. Degree application system suggests that university is an autonomous community; oral defense system cultivates a propensity of equality in thinking; degree awarding system demonstrates the power conferred by knowledge. By investigating the culture and the system, the thesis put forward a solution to the selection of cultural models and strategy of system design in the reform of academic system.Discussion in thesis is carried out in five aspects. The first chapter treats of the nature and function of degree. In a knowledge society, rather than being confined only to the academic area, degree is placed among extensive activities of profound knowledge, which is specified by Aristotle as not only the traditional theoretical knowledge, but also technical knowledge and practical knowledge. Thus, the knowledge activities involve aspects like the creation, dissemination and application of profound knowledge. In a sociological sense, degree is both the instrument of social stratification and the bridge for social mobility, serving to select and evaluate knowledge in the process of knowledge production and reproduction.Chapter two deals with the tradition of degree system in China. Though it is not until the beginning of 20th century in China that degree system was set up, the country have a long history of educating its people. When traditional education meets with foreign degree system, a fusion of the two emerges. Traditionally shared moral knowledge melts into the western cognitive system, which is represented by science and has gradually become the main part of knowledge. While public education stands in opposition to private education against the background of Sino-western cultural conflict, the two forms also facilitate each other's development. Over the last 30 years, degree system in China has experienced notable changes that are affected by marketization and popularization of higher education. With this background, three stages can be divided as follows:the enlightenment period characterized by knowledge liberation, the transformation period in market economy, and the period in which public demands are to be met. In general, the reform of degree system is one towards market-oriented public education.The characteristics and problems of degree system in modern China are discussed in Chapter three. Evolution over the last century has resulted in certain features of the degree system. The hierarchical structure of degrees system is rather simple, and the master's degree has become an independent degree. Academic degree is the principal type and disciplines are only to be admitted into the system when being approved by government-supported institutions. Quantitative assessment is combined with peer review in the evaluation system. The defense system helps to cultivate virtues such as respect for teachers and equality. Meanwhile, certain structural and institutional problems coexist with all these distinctive features. Chapter four provides a comparative study of three models of degree system in western countries. Originating from European colleges in middle ages, degree system has undergone enormous changes over the last 800 years and presently varies from country to country. Three models can be generalized, which are the market model, the controlled market model and the government-controlled model represented respectively by the American, British and German system. Centering on market, the American degree system has a multi-level structure and a quality guarantee system engaging more than one party. Its creativeness and flexibility has made it evolve to be the most successful postwar system. While the British government's control over degree system is balanced out with self-governing of academic institution, the German government take a leading role together with professors in the degree system.In Chapter five, some solutions to the reform of degree system in China are proposed. The proposition brought forward by Xu Meide that universities in China have collected enough experience for autonomous development has triggered an extensive criticism from Chinese scholars of the dependency theory of higher education. History has showed that reform of degree system in China should follow the path of "experience reference, surpassing the experience and autonomous development". Readjustments to the administration structure are to be made so that unification will be compatible with diversity. Measures in accordance with this strategy should on the one hand help to maintain the valuable part of traditional Chinese degree system and on the other hand adopt some common principles and the idea of diversity in the process of reform.This thesis provides some innovative thoughts concerning the nature of degree system and the phase division of the development of modern degree system. With a constructive interpretation of the existing problems, the thesis suggests some practical approaches to the reform of Chinese modern degree system.