Publications

The results of this project will be published as: China and Europe on the New Silk Road. Connecting Universities Across Eurasia. Edited by Marijk van der Wende, William C. Kirby, Nian Cai Liu, and Simon Marginson. Oxford University Press (2020).

Publications & More

Publications
Lynda Hardman (2020), ‘AI Research with China: to Collaborate or not to Collaborate – is that the Question?‘, Amsterdam Data Science

Marijk van der Wende, William C. Kirby, Nian Cai Liu, and Simon Marginson, Eds. (2020), China and Europe on the New Silk Road. Connecting Universities Across Eurasia, Oxford University Press

Anthony Welch (2019), ‘Australia’s China Question‘, International Higher Education

Stijn van Deursen and Henk Kummeling (2019), ‘The New Silk Road: a bumpy ride for Sino-European collaborative research under the GDPR?’,  The International Journal of Higher Education Research

Marijk van der Wende and Robert Tijssen (2019), ‘China’s Belt and Road Initiative finds new research partners in Europe‘, Nature Index

William Kirby and Marijk van der Wende (2019), ‘The New Silk Road: Implications for higher education in China and the West?‘, Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society

About the Book

China and Europe on the New Silk Road

Connecting Universities Across Eurasia

 

Edited by Marijk van der Wende, William C. Kirby, Nian Cai Liu, and Simon Marginson

Description
The global order, based on international governance and multilateral trade mechanisms in the aftermath of the Second World War, is changing rapidly and creating waves of uncertainty. This is especially true in higher education, a field increasingly built on international cooperation and the free movement of students, academics, knowledge, and ideas. Meanwhile, China has announced its plans for a “New Silk Road” (NSR) and is developing its higher education and research systems at speed. In this book an international and interdisciplinary group of scholars from Europe, China, the USA, Russia, and Australia investigate how academic mobility and cooperation is taking shape along the New Silk Road and what difference it will make, if any, in the global higher education landscape.

Opening chapters present the global context for the NSR, the development of Chinese universities along international models, and the history and outcomes of EU-China cooperation. The flows and patterns in academic cooperation along the NSR as they shape and have been shaped by China’s universities are then explored in more detail. The conditions for Sino-foreign cooperation are discussed next, with an analysis of regulatory frameworks for cooperation, recognition, data, and privacy. Comparative work follows on the cultural traditions and academic values, similarities, and differences between Sinic and Anglo-American political and educational cultures, and their implications for the governance and mission of higher education, the role of critical scholarship, and the state and standing of the humanities in China. The book concludes with a focus on the “Idea of a University”; the values underpinning its mission, shape, and purpose, reflecting on the implications of China’s rapid higher education development for the geo-politics of higher education itself.

Press Release

This is not a time to be silent.
This book addresses the opportunities, controversies and tensions surrounding the New Silk Road. It looks at how universities, while faced with challenges to their autonomy and values, stand firm to defend global cooperation.

The global order, based on international governance and multilateral trade mechanisms, built in the aftermath of World War II, is changing rapidly. Notably Brexit and the retreat of the USA from multilateralism have created waves of uncertainty, not the least in the field of higher education, regarding international cooperation, the free movement of students, academics, scientific knowledge and ideas.

Meanwhile, China is launching new global initiatives with its “New Silk Road”, is developing its higher education and research systems at speed, and is actively seeking to cooperate with academic partners along the New Silk Road.

It is unclear how these new relationships will affect European higher education and research; how this cooperation will contribute to addressing the global challenges we are all being faced with, and to the global common good. How this emerging reality can conform with current Western views and growing criticism of China concerning the key values of an open society, the belief in fundamental human rights, dignity, and the rule of law. And how the growing tensions between US and Chinese trade and security agendas and neo-nationalist trends influence collaboration. How can universities tackle these and stand firm to defend internationalization, autonomy, and academic freedom?

Clearly, this is not a time to be silent. Therefore the ambition of this book is to be open to the various perspectives and controversies surrounding the NSR, to build understanding for both sides, and to strengthen hope for continued global collaboration. It aims to critically explore the possible implications of the NSR for higher education and research cooperation between China and Europe, by looking at the main challenges and opportunities, including a consideration of the risks and uncertainties in the context of growing sensitivities in relationships between China and the West.

To this end, it presents a rich collection of contributions from an international and interdisciplinary group of scholars from Europe, Asia (notably China), the USA, Russia, and Australia, who were engaged in a two-year dialogue under the research project on “The New Silk Road: Implications for higher education and research cooperation between China and Europe”. It combines perspectives from anthropology, computer sciences, economics, education, history, law, political science, philosophy, science and technology studies, sinology, and sociology.

Central questions regard how academic mobility and cooperation are taking shape along the New Silk Road, under which conditions, defined by whom, and based on which values? And what, if any, difference will the New Silk Road make in the global higher education landscape?

The global Covid pandemic makes these findings only more relevant; how will it impact the main trends and issues in collaboration between China and the West? Which trends in academic cooperation with China will be sustained, enhanced, rebalanced, delayed, or even reversed? How will the EU position itself? And what is most at stake in the changing geopolitical order: international collaboration, competition, trust, open science, globalization as such?

The emerging new global context provides abundant food for thought and a wealth of questions for further research. The editors remain convinced that such research should be undertaken in close collaboration between China and the West.

About the editors:
Marijk van der Wende, Distinguished Faculty Professor of Higher Education, Utrecht University
William C. Kirby, T. M. Chang Professor of China Studies, Harvard University
Nian Cai Liu, Director of the Center for World-Class Universities, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Simon Marginson, Professor of Higher Education, University of Oxford

More information:
Table of Contents | Author Information | For press and media inquiries, please Contact Us | Request a Copy for Review Here | View this Press Release as PDF.

Table of Contents & Videos

get a preview:  chapters presented by authors (click on chapter title for video)

1: Introduction: China's Rise and the New Silk Road in Global Context, Marijk van der Wende, William Kirby, Nian Cai Liu, and Simon Marginson
2: The International Origins & Global Aspirations of Chinese Universities: Along the New Silk Road?, William C. Kirby
3: Eu-China Cooperation Along the New Silk Road: A Balanced Approach Towards Common Goals?, Marijk van der Wende (preview available)
4: First Effects of the New Silk Road Initiative on Research Collaboration: Early-Stage Macro Evidence from Europe, Robert Tijssen and Jos Winnink
5: A Quiet Success: The EU-China Higher Education Cooperation Program (1997-2001), Zheping Xie
6: International University Consortia on the New Silk Road, Zhuolin Feng and Luyang Gao
7: East Meets West in Suzhou at the Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, Charles van Marrewijk
8: Silk Road South: China - Malaysia Collaboration in Higher Education, Anthony Welch and Gerard Postiglione
9: Repositioning China in the Global Education Hierarchy Through the Sino-Foreign Educational Partnerships in the Belt and Road Initiative, Jie Gao
10: One Belt One Road: An Opportunity for Chinese Engineering Education to Go Global?, Jiabin Zhu, Guoyang Zhang, and Yaxin Huang (preview available)


Presented by Dr. Jiabin Zhu

11: A Silk Road for Professional Qualifications? EU Models of Integration and Their Potential in Sino-EU Relations, Ton van den Brink and Sybe A. de Vries
12: A European Compass for Transporting Personal Data on the New Silk Road, Stijn van Deursen and Henk Kummeling (preview available)


Presented by Stijn van Deursen

13: Artificial Intelligence Along the New Silk Road: Competition or Collaboration?, Lynda Hardman (preview available)
14: China Meets Anglo-America on the New Silk Road: A Comparison of State, Society, Self, and Higher Education, Simon Marginson and Lili Yang
15: Speaking Truth to Power: Kantian and Confucian Perspectives on the Role of the Scholar, Dascha Düring (preview available)


Presented by Dr. Dascha Düring

16: The Humanities and the New Silk Road, Dominic Sachsenmaier (preview available)
17: The Role of World-Class and Other Research Universities in Contributing to the New Silk Road Initiative, Lin Tian and Nian Cai Liu (preview available)


Presented by Lin Tian

18: The New Silk Road and the "Idea of the University", Barbara Sporn and Marijk van der Wende (preview available)
19: What are the Objectives of Chinese Higher Education in Relation to the New Silk Road Initiative?, Futao Huang (preview available)


Presented by Prof. Dr. Futao Huang

20: Russia, China, and Central Asia in Higher Education, Isak Froumin and Ruoqi Cao (preview available)
1: Introduction: China's Rise and the New Silk Road in Global Context, Marijk van der Wende, William Kirby, Nian Cai Liu, and Simon Marginson
2: The International Origins & Global Aspirations of Chinese Universities: Along the New Silk Road?, William C. Kirby
3: Eu-China Cooperation Along the New Silk Road: A Balanced Approach Towards Common Goals?, Marijk van der Wende (preview available)
4: First Effects of the New Silk Road Initiative on Research Collaboration: Early-Stage Macro Evidence from Europe, Robert Tijssen and Jos Winnink
5: A Quiet Success: The EU-China Higher Education Cooperation Program (1997-2001), Zheping Xie
6: International University Consortia on the New Silk Road, Zhuolin Feng and Luyang Gao
7: East Meets West in Suzhou at the Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, Charles van Marrewijk
8: Silk Road South: China - Malaysia Collaboration in Higher Education, Anthony Welch and Gerard Postiglione
9: Repositioning China in the Global Education Hierarchy Through the Sino-Foreign Educational Partnerships in the Belt and Road Initiative, Jie Gao
10: One Belt One Road: An Opportunity for Chinese Engineering Education to Go Global?, Jiabin Zhu, Guoyang Zhang, and Yaxin Huang (preview available)


Presented by Dr. Jiabin Zhu

11: A Silk Road for Professional Qualifications? EU Models of Integration and Their Potential in Sino-EU Relations, Ton van den Brink and Sybe A. de Vries
12: A European Compass for Transporting Personal Data on the New Silk Road, Stijn van Deursen and Henk Kummeling (preview available)


Presented by Stijn van Deursen

13: Artificial Intelligence Along the New Silk Road: Competition or Collaboration?, Lynda Hardman (preview available)
14: China Meets Anglo-America on the New Silk Road: A Comparison of State, Society, Self, and Higher Education, Simon Marginson and Lili Yang
15: Speaking Truth to Power: Kantian and Confucian Perspectives on the Role of the Scholar, Dascha Düring (preview available)


Presented by Dr. Dascha Düring

16: The Humanities and the New Silk Road, Dominic Sachsenmaier (preview available)
17: The Role of World-Class and Other Research Universities in Contributing to the New Silk Road Initiative, Lin Tian and Nian Cai Liu (preview available)


Presented by Lin Tian

18: The New Silk Road and the "Idea of the University", Barbara Sporn and Marijk van der Wende (preview available)
19: What are the Objectives of Chinese Higher Education in Relation to the New Silk Road Initiative?, Futao Huang (preview available)


Presented by Prof. Dr. Futao Huang

20: Russia, China, and Central Asia in Higher Education, Isak Froumin and Ruoqi Cao (preview available)

Videos

5 November 2021

Utrecht.

Short Context Clip: “Dual-Use Export Controls & Higher Education” by Claire Stalenhoef

More Information
Date: 5 November 2021, Utrecht University

Speaker: Claire Stalenhoef, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Title: Dual-Use Export Controls & Higher Education

5 November 2021

Utrecht.

Knowledge Clip: “Export Controls on Dual-Use Items and the Impact on Universities and Academics” by Claire Stalenhoef

More Information
Date: 5 November 2021, Utrecht University

Speaker: Claire Stalenhoef, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Title: Export Controls on Dual-Use Items and the Impact on Universities and Academics

5 November 2020

Online.

Book Launch Webinar: China and Europe on the New Silk Road. Connecting Universities Across Eurasia

More Information and Programme

The global order, based on international governance and multilateral trade mechanisms in the aftermath of the Second World War, is changing rapidly and creating waves of uncertainty. Meanwhile, China has launched its “New Silk Road” (NSR) and is developing its higher education and research systems at speed.

In this book an international and interdisciplinary group of scholars from Europe, China, the USA, Russia, and Australia, who were engaged in a two-year research project, investigate how academic mobility and cooperation is taking shape along the New Silk Road and what difference it will make, if any, in the global higher education landscape.

Features:

  • Provides an interdisciplinary and international perspective on one of the most important geopolitical trends of the 21st century
  • Reveals the increasing strategic importance, complexity, and rising tensions in international West-East academic cooperation
  • An invaluable resource for both scholars and policy makers in higher education

 

Programme:

Panel 1:

Introduction by the editors.

With Marijk van der Wende (Utrecht University), William Kirby (Harvard University), Nian Cai Liu (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Simon Marginson (University of Oxford).

With the geopolitical turmoil and a global pandemic heavily affecting the higher education context, the theme of this book is most topical and relevant. What could rising tensions around the rise of China, shifting global flows, the US 2020 elections, and the upcoming EU-China trade agreement imply for cooperation in higher education and R&D with China?

Followed by discussion led by Simon Baker (Data Editor, Times Higher Education).

 

Panel 2:

Academic values as a compass for global collaboration.

With Dominic Sachsenmaier (University of Göttingen), Futao Huang (Hiroshima University), Gerard Postiglione (University of Hong Kong), Zheping Xie (Tsinghua University).

How are the political tensions in and around China working out in academic work, what are implications for institutional autonomy, academic freedom, and joint efforts towards science as the global common good?

Followed by discussion led by Ben Upton (Reporter, Research Europe).

 

Panel 3:

Conditions for balanced EU-China collaboration.

Lynda Hardman (CWI Amsterdam & LIAMA), Marijk van der Wende (Utrecht University), Stijn van Deursen (Utrecht University), Barbara Sporn (Vienna University of Economics & Business).

Which actions and measures would the EC need to undertake in order to achieve a more balanced relationship with China in higher education and R&D? How to level the playing field for IPR, technology transfer, mutual data access. How to support science integrity, data security, and how “open” can “Open Science” actually be?

Followed by discussion led by Koen Jonker (Editor in Chief, European Commission Joint Research Centre).

14 May 2020

Online.

The New Silk Road in time of global pandemic: changing views on academic cooperation between China and the West?

More Information
Online panel discussion with:

Marijk van der Wende (Utrecht University), William Kirby (Harvard University), Simon Marginson (University of Oxford), Dominic Sachsenmaier (University of Göttingen), Nian Cai Liu (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Gerard A. Postiglione (The University of Hong Kong) and Anthony Welch (University of Sydney)

Principle investigators of the international research project on “The New Silk Road: implications for higher education and research cooperation between China and Europe”, discuss how the main trends and issues in collaboration between China and the West, as concluded from this study, may be affected by Corona impact. Which trends in academic cooperation with China will be sustained, enhanced, rebalanced, delayed, or even reversed? And what is most at stake in the changing geopolitical order: international collaboration, competition, trust, open science, globalization as such?

They also provide a preview of the book “China and Europe on the New Silk Road: Connecting Universities across Eurasia”, to be published by Oxford University Press and launched at the long-awaited dissemination seminar at Herrenhausen Palace (Hanover, Germany) which had to be postponed due to Corona-related circumstances.

25 November 2020

WU Vienna.

The New Silk Road: implications for higher education and research cooperation between China and Europe

More Information
Date: 25 November 2019, Institute for Higher Education Management (D5)

Speaker: Prof. dr. Marijk van der Wende, Distinguished Professor of Higher Education, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Title:The New Silk Road: implications for higher education and research cooperation between China and Europe

Recent geopolitical events such as Brexit and the US turning its back on international trade and cooperation create waves of uncertainty in higher education regarding international cooperation, the free movement of students, academics, scientific knowledge, and ideas. Meanwhile China is launching new global initiatives with its New Silk Road (or One Belt One Road) project, which could potentially span and integrate major parts of the world across the Euro-Asian continents. But likely on new and different conditions, also for higher education.

How will the NSR affect European higher education and research? What types of academic flows and activities emerge along the NSR, how do universities respond, under what conditions are these activities taking place, who defines these, based on what values, and do we actually understand these values at all? What will be the impact of these developments on the US HE sector and its role in the global HE landscape?

The project is carried out by an international consortium coordinated by Utrecht University’s Centre for Global Challenges (UGlobe).

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