Cultivation And Utilization Of Higher Institution Social Capital

Social capital theory has been developed on the study of social network since 1970.It is a new capital and opposite to the material capital and the human capital. Social capital has been a prevalent conception and analytical model in the disciplines of economic, sociology, political science and other subjects till 1990s, because of its comprehensive connotation and universal practice. Now, social capital has been considered a key cause to social and economic development, which is also the basis of organization survival and development. Social capital also plays an important role in development of higher institutions. However, higher institutions generally pay attention to material capital and human capital. So, it is theoretically and practically significant for higher institutions in furious competition to define the function of social capital and discuss how social capital in higher institutions are cultivated and used.Based on social capital theory, and combined with particularity of higher institutions, the paper analyses some basic questions of higher institution social capital, such as the concept, features, component parts, function and so on. Higher institution social capital refers to the resources which exists in the relation network or the broader social structureis and mobilized by higher institutions and beneficial to the development of them, including networks, trusts, beliefs, the specially created organizations and multifunctional organizations. Social capital in higher institutions has already played an important role in many aspects, such as coordinating internal motion of the higher institution, enhancing the school operation and management efficiency; Social capital can cover the shortage of material capital and human capital, such as accessing to government support, establishing the cooperation mechanism of " School -- Enterprise" cooperation, sharing of resources between higher institutions, accessing to the support of alumnis and higher educational intermediaries, retaining and attracting talented people. On how cultivating and using social capital, this paper believes that the key lies in constructing reasonable intergovernmental structure, implementing the brand strategy to set up good social image and prestige, giving full play to the government in nurturing social capital and accelerating the development of higher educational intermediaries.