Page 7 - 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 Photo: Students relax between classes at the Unversity of Manchester. Photo/Courtesy
E xcept for Al-Azhar University, all national university identity distinct national university identity distinct strong national basis. In the process, In particular, growing self-confidence seek a common understanding of the
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 while substantial changes are taking among East Asia’s own university contemporary university, based on a
sities in medieval Europe. This famous the Japanese colonial regime. the Japanese colonial regime. place to decentralise university gover- models may ultimately result in the mutual respect for diversity and a need
observation by Philip Altbach conveys a nance, a clear consensus on academic claim that Dà Xué and other concepts of to address common global and regional
strong message that all institutions In the 19th century, modern East Asian In the 19th century, modern East Asian freedom and university autonomy is leading East Asian higher education challenges.
claiming to be universities should be states searched for, and introduced, states searched for, and introduced, still missing. institutions are different from the
autonomous communities of academics, university models inspired by national university models inspired by national notion of universities originating from This dialogue on a contemporary
independent from both religious and higher education systems in mod- higher education systems in mod- Today, top universities in China seek to the specific political setting of medieval concept of university may be linked
secular authorities. ernised Western nation states. These ernised Western nation states. These dominate regional rankings, backed by Europe. with postcolonial discourses, but more
Daigaku, Dà Xué and Daehakgyo were Daigaku, Dà Xué and Daehakgyo were huge national investments and talent importantly, it should be led by academ-
Unfortunately, anyone familiar with the conceptualised and reshaped differently conceptualised and reshaped differently concentration driven by national History indicates that national demand ics engaging in self-reflection across
long and diverse history of universities in their particular national languages in their particular national languages motives. The strategies and profiles of for science and technology and highly nations and institutions. Universities
around the globe knows this claim to be and historical contexts, but can all be and historical contexts, but can all be Chinese universities, therefore, are skilled human resources does not around the world can share a common
a myth. Universities throughout the translated into the common English translated into the common English strongly influenced by the connection always result in supporting universities identity only through the willpower of
world have frequently faced crises when term ‘university’. term ‘university’. between university governance and as autonomous academic communities academics working on this exercise
religious or secular powers have party leadership and by systematic – as shown by the closure of universities together.
challenged their academic freedom and In recent decades, the rise of national In recent decades, the rise of national support to both top universities and top under the French Revolution.
autonomy. East Asian economies based on science East Asian economies based on science disciplines (‘Double First Class’) by
and technology has driven national and technology has driven national government projects. The global development of universities
In search of a distinct university leaders and higher education research- leaders and higher education research- is stimulating an ‘arms race’ in terms of Akiyoshi Yonezawa is professor and
identity ers to seek identities for their universi- ers to seek identities for their universi- Higher education systems within and knowledge, and close connections with vice-director, International Strategy
Especially in regions far from European ties and higher education systems that ties and higher education systems that surrounding Greater China have, to national governments and industry tend Office, Tohoku University, Sendai,
traditions of civilisation such as East are distinct from the West and present are distinct from the West and present varying degrees, been influenced by to link academic exchange and collabo- Japan. E-mail: akiyoshi. yoneza-
Asia, modern university systems were similarities and differences within the similarities and differences within the regional geopolitics in higher education, rations with national interests. wa.a4@tohoku.ac.jp. This article was
launched, developed and transformed region. region. including student and faculty mobility first published in the current 100th
after the mid-19th century in close within the region and beyond, for exam- Even in Japan, whose national constitu- edition of International Higher Educa-
association with nation building. In this The emergence of globally top-ranked The emergence of globally top-ranked ple, with Africa. tion guarantees academic freedom, tion
process, the articulation of universities universities in East Asia has accelerated universities in East Asia has accelerated there are occurrences of legal actions to
as concepts imported from the West, but this trend. For example, the achieve- this trend. For example, the achieve- Will nationalism lead to a crisis of prevent international collaborations
with Eastern intellectual traditions and ments of Singapore’s highly ranked ments of Singapore’s highly ranked university identity? with researchers from certain countries.
identities, has been a constant and universities indicate that it is possible to universities indicate that it is possible to In recent years, the rise of nationalism
central issue. establish a world-class university on a establish a world-class university on a has changed the landscape of global It is high time for universities around
higher education. the world to start a dialogue in order to
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