A Study On The Governance Structure Of Caspian University Under The View Of Stakeholders

Since the latter half of the20th century, the quality of higher education is facing a crisis of confidence, more and more people started to pay attention to and try to participate in the university affairs, thus, the western higher education organizations put forward the concept of common governance. At the same time, in the view of our country attach more importance to the construction of modern university system and the improvement of governance structure to university. This paper discuss the governance structure of Lehigh University by using the literature studies, case studies, interviews and other research methods from the aspect of stakeholder. The paper aims to enhance people’s awareness about the western university stakeholders participate in the university common governance, to provide reference for the reform of our country’s university governance structure, and to promote the construction of modern university system.Firstly, the paper clarifies the importance and possibility to carry out the research about university governance. It analyzes the present situation of university governance and stakeholder of China and other foreign countries. According to the reference, previous scholars had made tremendous contributions on the study of university governance, but they didn’t make a thorough investigation about the governance structure of foreign universities.Secondly, it analyzes the organizational structure and the governance situation of Lehigh University, discussing the relationship between Lehigh University governance and stakeholders. Inside the university, the research takes the board of trustees, president, administrator, teacher and student as the objects of analysis. Outside the university, it takes the government, enterprise, alumni, and community as the objects of analysis. Depending on the research, we found that the characteristics of Lehigh University is common governance.Thirdly, it analyzes the formative factor of Lehigh University governance structure, the conflicts and coordination of stakeholders. It exists many factors having a important influence on university governance structure, including the history and tradition of western higher education, diversified sources of funding, and university bylaws. Futhermore, several factors create the conflicts between stakeholders. Therefore, the paper analyzes the effective measures of Lehigh University in this aspect.At last, based on the situation and problems of our universities, the paper compares the similarities and differences of governance structure between our universities and Lehigh University. It proposes several measures for improving the university governance structure. We need to update the idea of governance, and formulate university bylaws. Our universities should develop the external relations, and we need to establish a new concept of higher education quality.