An Empirical Study On Functions Of World-class Universities

World-class universities(WCUs),which are generally regarded as global research universities,are important constituents of the global higher education system.There are agreed-upon features of WCUs when compared with other research universities(RUs),including:(1)talent concentration;(2)abundant resources;(3)global engagement;(4)international reputation;(5)favorable governance.In the past decades,WCUs played an increasingly important role in enhancing countries' international competitiveness and national soft power.There is an increasing number of discussions about WCUs,including the definition and features of WCUs,the development of WCUs,and the building of WCUs in different countries and regions.However,there is little empirical research systematically exploring WCUs from a functional perspective,with an internationally comparative analysis.As universities' functions are not only about the basic theoretical issues of universities,but also the starting point of universities practices,also,WCUs hold different positioning and features from other research universities;Thus,the exploration of WCUs' functions will help deepen people's understandings of WCUs,while at the same time enrich academic theories and develope new perspectives for studying WCUs.Under the framework of structural functionalism,using a mixed-method approach,this study systematically explores the functions of WCUs through documentary method,semi-structured interviews(N = 74)and online surveys(N = 118).This paper aims to investigate the following four research questions:(1)What are the differences between WCUs and other research universities in the basic three functions of education,research and service?(2)Apart from education,research and service,what are the special functions that are possessed exclusively by WCUs when compared with other research universities?(3)How(do)WCUs function differently in different countries and regions and why?(4)What are the changes of WCUs' functions in the future? What factors would bring these new changes? Based on this,the main results and findings are as follows:First,there are differences in the three basic functions between WCUs and RUs.In terms of education,the aim/purpose of education(more related to the types and levels of talents cultivated by universities),the approach and model of education are significantly different between WCUs and RUs.As for research,interviewees in this study propose it as the function with the most significant difference between WCUs and RUs.The type,focus,content,level and size of research are different between these two types of universities.Regarding service,the most significant difference between WCUs and RUs lies in the scope and level of service.These differences are largely contingent on the available resources,self-positioning and visions of universities,and are also affected by different external demands.Second,WCUs have the special function / unique mission that is possessed exclusively by WCUs when compared with other research universities,which is embodied in WCUs serving the global common good and acting as global role models(for research universities).The unique features of WCUs' special function / unique mission are global positioning,global contribution,global influence and global cooperation,which also indicate the “global nature” of WCUs themseleves.Along with the continuously deepening process of globalization,these unique features of the special function / unique mission as well as the “global nature” of WCUs are strengthened.The special function / unique mission of WCUs originates from the three basic functions while transcends them.The global vision,far-reaching influence,as well as the complexity and diversity in its practices have exceeded the scope of the three basic functions.Also,the special function /unique mission exclusively possessed by WCUs is closely related to WCUs' distinctive advantages,including global obligation,global capability and global reputation.In the light of this,this study defines the special function / unique mission of WCUs as GLOBALIZING,that is,in the face of increasingly complex internationalization of higher education,continuously growing global challenges,and rapidly evolving information technology,world-class universities,relying on their distinctive advantages including global obligation,global capability,and global reputation,serve the global common good and act as the global role model of research universities,and continuously improve the unique features of their special function / unique mission,including global positioning,global contribution,global influence,and global cooperation.Third,WCUs are functioning differently in China,the US and Europe,which are primarily affected by the history and culture of different countries and regions,universities' funding sources,the national/political factors,the national development level,and universities' management structure.WCUs are dynamic and diversified global institutions.Different WCUs are rooted in different social environments and have different internal structural features.Therefore,their perfomances and advantages related to various functions vary.Obviously,WCUs' different functioning in different countries and regions is one aspect of their distinctive characteristics and diversity.Together,these universities constitute the top universities in the global academic network and leverage their academic strength and influence to lead global higher education development,while at the same time make contributions to their countries,regions and the global society.Fourth,WCUs' three basic functions are subject to new changes in the future,i.e.the content of the three basic functions will be enriched;the specific activities and practices related to these functions will be more diversified;the national/regional features of these functions will be enhanced to some extent.In the same vein,WCUs' special function / unique mission is also subject to new changes in the future,i.e.the content of the special function / unique mission will be enriched;the importance of the special function / unique mission will be continuously emphasized with the development of the global society.However,it is difficult to predict that whether WCUs will have any new special function / unique mission in the future.Factors generating the abovelisted changes include technology/intelligentization/digitalization,globalization and internationalization,global issues,the rise of anti-globalization and nationalism,and the increased global cooperation.In summary,the main contributions of this research include:(1)For the first time,it proposes the special function / unique mission(i.e.GLOBALIZING)of WCUs that distinguishes them from other research universities;(2)it systematically analyzes the differences in the three basic functions between WCUs and other research universities;(3)it explores the national and regional differences in WCUs' functioning in China,the US and Europe,and examines the factors causing these differences,including the history and culture,the funding sources,the national and political factors,etc.;(4)it predicts the future changes of WCUs' functions and reveals the affecting factors of these changes,including technology/intelligentization/digitalization,globalization and internationalization,global issues,anti-globalization and nationalism,the increased global cooperation.