Promoting University and Industry Links at the Regional Level: Comparing China’s Reform and International Experience

Abstract

This paper intends to learn from international experiences in order to facilitating China’s ongoing regional university transformation with an ultimate goal to enhance the role of university in regional economic development and innovation. In so doing, this paper compares major models of universities of applied sciences (UAS) around the world from the perspective of the Triple Helix Model with an emphasis on the nature of university-industry relation implied by each model, and then exploring their relevance for China’s UASs transformation. It is concluded that the Finnish model is the most relevant to China. By comparing the Finnish and Chinese practices, a number of recommendations are solicited to Chinese policy-makers.     

Validation of portable 2D force binding systems for cross-country skiing

The aim of the present study was to design, construct and scientifically validate a two-dimensional force measurement binding system for cross-country skiing. The system consists of two force measurement bindings. One binding was designed for analysing classic skiing (vertical and anterior–posterior [along the ski] force components) and the other one for skate (freestyle) skiing (vertical and medio-lateral [transverse to the ski] force components). Validation was accomplished using a three-step process: (1) accuracy tests for the sensors in two temperatures, (2) sport-specific imitation jump test on standard force plates in a laboratory and (3) comparing the system against force measurement reference systems that are currently used when skiing on snow. During sport-specific imitation jumps, differences in peak forces and impulses between the classic binding and the reference systems ranged from 8.0 to 19.9 % and were two to three times greater compared to differences between the skate binding and the reference systems (range ?5.9 to 5.5 %). However, high similarity coefficients were observed with both bindings (classic binding 0.990–0.996, skate binding 0.996–0.999) compared to the reference systems. Based on these results, the skate binding was shown to be fully valid for use in field measurements of skate skiing, whereas some improvements have to be performed in the construction and sensor placements for the classic binding (vertical as well as anterior–posterior force component).     

Sex-Role Stereotypes and Causal Attributions for Success and Failure in Motor Performance

This experiment investigated the relationship between sex-role stereotypes and causal attributions. Eighty fourth-grade boys and girls competed at a motor skill task against either boys or girls—either winning or losing. Subsequently, subjects assigned causality of their success or failure to various attributional factors. The data confirmed the following hypothesis derived from the literature on the sex-role stereotypes: Boys are less likely to claim the lack of their own abilities and the presence of the opponents' (girls') abilities as causes of their failures when they lose to girls than when they lose to boys. Girls showed a tendency (nonsignificant) to accept the lack of their abilities and the presence of the opponents' (boys') abilities as causes of their failures to a greater extent after losing to boys than after losing to girls. The results further revealed that mere performance against competitors of the same sex increased boys' stereotypes about their superiority over girls.     

Students' Pedagogical Thinking and the use of ICTs in Teaching

This article discusses students' pedagogical thinking in situations where the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has a (well-defined) pedagogical role and rationale. By analysing students' pedagogical thinking in this setting, it is also possible to better understand their motivations and self-regulation. Pedagogical thinking as viewed from the student's angle is a new area of educational research. Our research method is a combination of the Stimulated Recall interview and the semi-structured theme interview. In addition, some background data were gathered by questionnaire to discern students' different uses of ICTs and their contexts. The findings suggest how the educational use of ICTs is considered to be meaningful and motivating by both genders and among all the interviewed age groups, in spite of the fact that an acute and vocal critique seems to develop among older students. The differences reside in students' reasoning regarding decision making in task operations between genders, which was one of the background variables—girls actively include identity and opinion, while boys emphasize the quality of performance as motives for decisions.     

The Adoption of International Communications Networks and Electronic Mail into Foreign Language Education

This article reports a study of the possibilities of communications networks and electronic mail (e‐mail) in foreign language (FL) teaching. The research model combined FL education and information technologies (communications networks and e‐mail). The study was a multisite ethnographic case study, with elements of exploratory, collaborative, change‐oriented field‐work‐based development research. The Finnish participants included six classes (Form 1 or 2) in three senior secondary schools, with four teachers of English. The foreign participants came mainly from schools in Britain and the USA. Data gathering techniques included a number of various qualitative methods. Introducing a technological innovation into FL classrooms was quite successful. The teachers realized that communications networks would soon be an integrated part of FL teaching, though incorporating them in the FL curriculum called for extra work. There was some change in methods of work, taking the authenticity of e‐mails into account, though the linguistic features of the e‐mails were occasionally over‐emphasized. The lesson format was learner‐centred but somewhat teacher‐monitored. Learners’ autonomous, dyadic and small group work increased, while teachers partly became co‐learners with students.     

Cybernetic institutional management theory and practice: A system of flexible workload for university teachers

In the past three decades, higher education reforms have taken place almost everywhere in the world, and governance or the way that higher education is or should be coordinated has become a global topic. The governance reform in Chinese higher education emerged against such a background. The current studies on Chinese higher education reforms mainly tackle the reform processes and treat the Chinese government as the driver of the reforms, whereas how the Chinese government is susceptible to international pressures has remained under‐researched. This article examines the mechanisms that facilitate the spread of global governance reform ideologies in Chinese higher education through the Chinese government, drawing on the concept of institutional isomorphism. Based on analysing recent literature and documents, it concludes that the Chinese government is affected by the global reform ideas and practices that have been legitimatised through international organisations' rhetoric and other countries' successful experiences.     

Information as a Regulative Element in Higher Education Systems

The existence of information asymmetry has ascended to a significant role in higher education systems. The article makes an attempt to conceptualise the interaction of universities with their environment, stakeholders, and the state by paying special attention to the role and substance of information asymmetry. The existence of information asymmetries has spurred a range of actions by external stakeholders of universities to overcome information asymmetries. The article specifies the nature of these actions and analyses their impact and potential for the reduction of information asymmetry.