Page 6 - Nile Explorer Issue 006

When Japan established its first modern When Japan established its first modern
university in 1877, it chose the term university in 1877, it chose the term
daigaku as a translation for ‘university’ daigaku as a translation for ‘university’
– notably, as in Daigaku-Ryo, which was – notably, as in Daigaku-Ryo, which was
the name of a college for training the name of a college for training
national administrators that existed national administrators that existed
until the 12th century. until the 12th century.

In 1898, the Qing Dynasty in China In 1898, the Qing Dynasty in China
transformed its traditional institute for transformed its traditional institute for
training senior administrators into the training senior administrators into the

Do we share worldwide modern university Dà Xué Táng, modern university Dà Xué Táng,
renamed Peking Dà Xué in 1912, just
renamed Peking Dà Xué in 1912, just
a common university after the establishment of the Republic after the establishment of the Republic
identity? of China. of China.

By Professor Akiyoshi Yonezawa, In 1946, South Korea founded its first In 1946, South Korea founded its first
Tohoku University, Japan university, Seoul National University, as university, Seoul National University, as
Daehakgyo, based on a concept of Daehakgyo, based on a concept of
E xcept for Al-Azhar University, all national university identity distinct national university identity distinct
from the abolished Keijo Teikoku
from the abolished Keijo Teikoku
universities in the world share a
common origin: they stem from univer- Daigaku, an imperial university under Daigaku, an imperial university under
sities in medieval Europe. This famous the Japanese colonial regime. the Japanese colonial regime.
observation by Philip Altbach conveys a
strong message that all institutions In the 19th century, modern East Asian In the 19th century, modern East Asian
claiming to be universities should be states searched for, and introduced, states searched for, and introduced,
autonomous communities of academics, university models inspired by national university models inspired by national
independent from both religious and higher education systems in mod- higher education systems in mod-
secular authorities. ernised Western nation states. These ernised Western nation states. These
Daigaku, Dà Xué and Daehakgyo were Daigaku, Dà Xué and Daehakgyo were
Unfortunately, anyone familiar with the conceptualised and reshaped differently conceptualised and reshaped differently
long and diverse history of universities in their particular national languages in their particular national languages
around the globe knows this claim to be and historical contexts, but can all be and historical contexts, but can all be
a myth. Universities throughout the translated into the common English translated into the common English
world have frequently faced crises when term ‘university’. term ‘university’.
religious or secular powers have
challenged their academic freedom and In recent decades, the rise of national In recent decades, the rise of national
autonomy. East Asian economies based on science East Asian economies based on science
and technology has driven national and technology has driven national
In search of a distinct university leaders and higher education research- leaders and higher education research-
identity ers to seek identities for their universi- ers to seek identities for their universi-
Especially in regions far from European ties and higher education systems that ties and higher education systems that
traditions of civilisation such as East are distinct from the West and present are distinct from the West and present
Asia, modern university systems were similarities and differences within the similarities and differences within the
launched, developed and transformed region. region.
after the mid-19th century in close
association with nation building. In this The emergence of globally top-ranked The emergence of globally top-ranked
process, the articulation of universities universities in East Asia has accelerated universities in East Asia has accelerated
as concepts imported from the West, but this trend. For example, the achieve- this trend. For example, the achieve-
with Eastern intellectual traditions and ments of Singapore’s highly ranked ments of Singapore’s highly ranked
identities, has been a constant and universities indicate that it is possible to universities indicate that it is possible to
central issue. establish a world-class university on a establish a world-class university on a

6 | The Nile Explorer 006
| The Nile Explorer 006
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