World-class universities’ contribution to an open society: Chinese universities on a mission?

Abstract

How can WCU’s continue to contribute to the global common good, while support for open borders, multilateral trade and cooperation is being weakened, globalization is criticized, and nationalism is looming? (How) can they compensate for the inequalities resulting from globalization? The pressure on the sector is two-faceted: the push to compete at global level and a growing critique on local commitment and delivery. Especially the pursuit of global positioning on rankings is being criticized for jeopardizing universities’ national and local mission and for making them footloose from their society as a cosmopolitan project. How can they overcome these tensions in a context of backlash against globalization and growing skepticism to internationalization in Europe and the US? And what will be the meaning and impact of the rise of China with its New Silk Road project, which could potentially span the Euro-Asian continents?