A Comparative Study On The Development Of Regular Higher Education In Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region And Other Seven Provinces Of The Minority Regions

With the implementation of" the Belt and Road", Xinjiang is facing with new opportunities and chanllenges. Higher education as the high level in the education system form, is playing an increasingly important role in supporting and leading the economic and social development in Xinjiang. Since the college enrollment expansion policy was carried out in 1999, higher education in Xinjiang has achieved rapid developments, but it still lags behind the national avearge level and other seven provinces of the minority regions, its present situation can’t meet the needs of economic and social developments.In this study,taking the regular higher education in Xinjiang as the research object, using the latest data available, selecting the indicators reflecting the scale, faculty, funding and quality of higher education, we analyzed the longitudinal developments and changes of regular higher education in Xinjiang since 1998,and then compared the current status of regular higher education in Xinjiang in 2014 with those of the national average and other seven provinces of the minority regions of the same year, and then calculated the contribution rate of higher education to its economic growth in Xinjiang. The empirical research on the coordination of the scales and hierarchy of higher education with the economic development was conducted. Questionnaires and interviews were also carried out to collect views and suggestions from some Xinjiang college students, teachers and administrators. It was concluded that for a long time the developments of higher education in Xinjiang has lagged behind its economic development and the national average, contributing less to the economic growth. Problems in detail and their underlying reasons were analyzed, and suggestions were put forward to advance higher education in Xinjiang.