Research On The Ecology Competition Of Chinese Higher Education Institutions Based On Niche Principles

With the rapid development of Chinese higher education, the competition among Chinese Higher Education Institutions (CHEIs) is becoming more intense, the situation of which is directly connected with not only the survival and development of CHEIs, but also with the whole national prosperity and economic development. The establishment of a strong niche for CHEIs, together with an assured position in the whole ecology system, is a precondition of strategic importance for the establishment and maintenance of featured education. The logic of this dissertation goes from the analysis of the competition situation of CHEIs to the analysis of ecology competition resources and strategy orientation of CHEIs, during which the study and evaluation of the niche, the ecology competitiveness forms a reference basis. Basing its theories on pedagogy, ecology, economics, management and system sciences, this dissertation puts forward, in theories and practice, some realistic viewpoints and practical measures. The main points of this dissertation include:Ⅰ. Utilizing systematic analysis, the author of this dissertation first discusses different schools of higher education, education ecology, education competition theories both at home and abroad, their characteristics and influences on Chinese higher education; then s/he probes into the ecological characteristics of educational ecology, and generalizes the researches of education ecology by experts both at home and abroad, which functions as the theoretical basis for the study of higher education ecology competition.Ⅱ. The explanation of CHEIs'ecology system leads to further analysis of its characteristics, constituents and structure. Meanwhile, the niche connotation of CHEIs is defined. Due to competitiveness, the dissertation points out, competing CHEIs can have different competition relations such as repulsion, overlap, elusion, and separation. When making education orientation policies, CHEIs must divide the"market,"and consider the niche factors of resources, time, scale, space, condensation or release, and motion, the ultimate goal of which is niche education. Different niche models of situation, ultra-volume, breadth, overlap, separation, suitability and cooperation are constructed, which lay a foundation for the niche evaluation of CHEIs.Ⅲ.The above niche models are used to analyze the niches of 37 CHEIs in Shandong Province, 13-other types according to disciplines, and more in other provinces of China in different regions. The relationship between regional economic development and CHEIs development is also probed into. A case study of Shandong Institute of Business and Technology shows the changes of niche, the development of which follows a bell curve and trend of change corresponds the letter"S". Then, the resources of 15 other colleges and universities in Shandong province are studied and analyzed according to the niche models of breadth and overlap, after which a rational evaluation formula to evaluate the niche breadth and overlap is elicited and tested. The evaluation results can be references for education managers to have a correct view of the positions of their pertinent colleges and universities in their respective regions.Ⅳ.Social reasons and characters leading to college competition are examined. Ecology competition of CHEIs is composed of both subject and object. Having defined the connotation of CHIEs ecology competitiveness, the author of this dissertation constructs a systematic-structure model to examine the ecology competition dynamics of CHEIs.Theories of competition, gradient analysis, and life cycle, and so on are used to analyze and evaluate the competition situation among CHEIs. Further, theories of Competition and Cooperation in biological evolution and systematic structure are employed to construct one dynamical model of competition analysis and one framework of"4 situations,"which covers static, dynamic, potential, and ecological aspects. A new structure model of 3 layers, 3 dimensions, 3 series and 3 elements tables proposes and tentative plans to the operating mechanism and effective combination of competition factors, and it also provides new aspects to recognize the competition among CHEIs. This model will also function as a guide and reference for CHEIs to analyze the competition factors inside and outside, to utilize effectively the dynamics and to escape from resistance, and finally to promote effective competition.Ⅴ.The characters and deficiencies of the index system available to evaluate CHEIs competitiveness are explained and accordingly, the principles and methods of a ecology competition index are established. A new index system based on ecology competition is constructed, with the niche theories of breadth and overlap being applied to the evaluation of CHEIs.On the optimization of ecological index, using Principal Component Analysis, FA-BP, an integrated evaluation model is build up to evaluate ecology competitiveness, which is also tested with the data of 15 colleges and universities in Shandong Province. Both the index system and the model have the theoretical systems to evaluate CHEIs enriched.Ⅵ.According to the characters of CHEIs ecology environment, with new theories of ecology, strategy, and marketing in foreign universities being applied to CHEIs management, after an analysis of the competition environment and resources of CHEIs, an ideal combination of conditions to improve the management of CHEIs is concluded:"environment opportunity—target—strategy—organization and structure--management system."Systematic theory is used to analyze both tangible resources such as HR, capital, etc. and intangible resources such as reputation, image, fame and so on of CHEIs. A differentiation model of the degree of being favored, together with a visual image model, is established. Main factors affecting CHEIs are defined, which provide a cognitive basis to the formulation of a reasonable and scientific strategy of ecology competition.Ⅶ.Under the guidance of ecology competition strategy, the theories of strategic management, ecology clustering of colleges and universities are applied to the analysis of competitions. Methods to classify and rank CHEIs competitions are suggested. The theorietical foundation of rational education orientation for CHEIs and the ways to cultivate ecology competitiveness are put forward. All the above achievements will be useful, to some extent, for colleges and universities to set down rational and scientific ecology competition strategies.