| In China, independent colleges originated in 1999. After approximately a decade's rapid development, to date, they have become an important and distinguished segment of higher education institutions. Currently, with the fast development of the very circumstances, their development has entered into a new stage. In the relatively long period of time to come, the main tasks for them are to stabilize the scale, to standardize the management, and to improve the quality, rather than to increase number, or to enlarge scale. In February 2008, Ministry of Education promulgated "Regulations on the Establishment and Management of Independent Colleges", which is a response to the actual problems, a supplement to the implication of the eighth regulation, and a guide towards the direction of the development of independent colleges.This paper makes a summary and analysis of the substantial data, employing survey method, comparative method, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis. Here, the paper consists of the following sections:First, it's a foreword, it introduces the research background, data review, research meaning, research contents, survey methods, as well as the definition of related concepts.Second, from the perspective of property rights, eight types of independent colleges are listed, with analysis of the strengths and weaknesses.Third, similar systems overseas are discussed, with the objective to get reference and inspiration for independent colleges in China. Fourth, feedbacks from questionnaires are classificatorily analyzed and summatively assessed, from which the real status quo is made clear.Fifth, from the perspective of sustainable development of higher education, from the macro, medium and micro aspects, with regard to the status quo and actual problems, countermeasures and suggestions are proposed for independent colleges as follows: coordination of the sponsoring and operating parties, improvement of the management; strengthening the monitoring mechanisms, standardization of the financial system; construction of stable and excellent teaching staff, and creation of teaching-research-industry cooperation. |
