The Negotiation Mechanism Of The Classified Guidance Of Government To Institutions Of Higher Education

Multi-stakeholders propose different value proposition and interest demands to the development of universities. Colleges and universities face value conflict. In the higher education popularity stage, university classification development has became the prerequisite approach to improve the quality of higher education in China. To achieve the situation of classification development, we must solve the conflict between multi-stakeholders. How to coordinate the interests of the plural subjects, how to make the classification framework and classification policies to reflect value propositions of different main bodies, all these problems have brought new challenges but also new opportunities for China.From the three perspectives, function differentiation of higher education, social demand, relevant experience of the developed countries, it’s an inexorable law for colleges and universities to develop in various fields. However, China has not performed effective classified guidance mechanism on the practical level. At present, the official and most authoritative classification standard is attached to the departmental administrative grade. This is a single-dimension classification based on single value yet. It is not conductive to higher education’s differentiation on functions. Analysis by the theory of sociology neo-institutionalism, convergence of higher education institutions are manifest with compulsory convergence, normative convergence and imitativeness. The convergence is highly correlated with governments’ institutional arrangement, because the government decides the legality of the colleges and universities. Therefore, it’s imperative to construct a new mechanism of classified guidance of the government.Between the government and the higher education institutions, within the system of higher education institutions, there are value conflicts. In fact, these conflicts can be mediated. It is possible that the parties in the conflicts reach a consensus on values by certain means. Negotiation is an effective path to mediate value conflicts and achieve consensus.Governance theory emphasizes the decentralization of rights, multiple subjects sharing rights and cooperating. Regard this theory as instruction, Chinese government should establish outside management system with the other governing subjects, set up cooperative relationship with the universities and colleges. The relationship should not to be controlling and be controlled, commending and executing. The value negotiation theory maintains equal contact and debate between parties with conflicts. The parties should insight into other’s suggestions and assertions deep, learn more about value object in the entire course, reach consensus gradually and draw up a common action plan at last. Negotiation participants can clear down the rights and responsibilities in the contract in the text form. Different parties must restrict and supervise mutually. When California, USA formulates the California Master Plan for Higher Education and European Union set up the program of Classifying European Institutions for Higher Education, the negotiation theory has been utilized successfully.The establishment of negotiation mechanism is the key to our government’s classified guidance to universities and colleges. Consulting negotiation mechanism must follow the rules of parties be equality and freedom, sharing rights and multiple interests reflected in the last policy. Establishment of the mechanism should also have a stable program and establish a coordinating committee. Parties in negotiation could elaborate their ideas freely and clarity the problem to be solved. To accomplish a final formulation as an operable official plan, each party must make some compromises and concessions in positive interaction. The official institutional arrangements include four aspects:Firstly, the location of universities’classification, the multiple subjects develop the classification criteria in consultation, the government makes final determination about the type based on universities’autonomous location and social intermediary’ location. Secondly, a clear division of powers and responsibilities of multiple subjects. Thirdly, evaluation and quality assurance, develop a variety of evaluation index system, foster intermediate evaluation tissues with high public trust and use the treaty rules. Fourthly, resource allocation, treat all types of universities and colleges fairly when allocate the resource of freshmen, funding and support policies and so on.