Undergraduate Supervision System In Elite Universities: International Approaches And A Case Study Of China

The cultivation of outstanding creative talents is a topic of great concern in higher education in China. Teacher-student relationship is a key element in enhancing the quality of talent cultivation. This research argues building an undergraduate supervision system can be one way for Chinese elite universities to realize the above goal.Oxford's distinctive tutorial system offers students regular individual contact with their teachers. Harvard and Princeton also highly emphasize the importance of tight teacher-student relationships in undergraduate education. This research compares approaches in the above three elite universities on how to build close teacher-student relationships and categorizes them into three types according to the role of the teacher: consulting advisors, personal or group tutors and research mentors. Furthermore, this research describes in detail how different approaches work for each type, as well as introducing the supporting mechanisms, which provides deep perspectives and different models for Chinese elite universities.In order to understand the status quo of the existing undergraduate supervision system in Chinese elite universities, this research takes Shanghai Jiao Tong University as an example and conducts interviews with the university provost and deans of students in five representative colleges and departments. Results from those interviews accentuate the problems and challenges in the present experiments and demonstrate the progressing improvement programs across levels. In addition, this research further investigates students' needs and expectations through individual or group interviews.In conclusion, this research proposes the framework of the undergraduate supervision system for Chinese elite universities as well as the specific advice on implementation. In terms of the framework in China, this research suggests that emphasis should be put on introducing tutors and research mentors. However, huge differences between subjects should be taken into account. Specifically, the supervision system in engineering should focus on the establishment of research mentorship, while the sciences and arts could make the most of the personal teaching and features their undergraduate education with personal tutors. As for implementation, institutions can establish a special office for the supervision system, ensure abundant funds and provide necessary resources according to specific strategies. Last but not least, the individualities of teachers and students should be cared all the time in designing and founding a systematic supervision system.