Building cross-border joint-universities in China : a case study of organizational dilemma

Abstract

This research examines the interactions and dynamics between one cross-border joint-university and its social environment in the process of institutional transplantation and organizational adaptation. Using Castle University (CU) in mainland China as a case, this study specifically demonstrates the interplays between CU and partners, government, the market, parents, and the general public. Adopting a qualitative research approach, this study collected data over several months of fieldwork, including campus visits; observation of events, classes, and student’s associations; interviews of 50 students, 16 faculty members, and 16 administrative staff members; and the review of various documents, including national policies, local regulations, and campus newsletters.

Drawing on intensive, rich fieldwork data, this research demonstrates several types of tensions between CU and key players in its social environments. The inter-organizational relations among CU’s partners are a complex mix of both cooperation and conflict. CU constantly struggles between internationalization and localization in its dealing with the market, and balances seeking official support with protecting its institutional autonomy in its relations with the government. Similarly, the university is torn between institutionalizing parental participation and enhancing students’ independence when dealing with influential Chinese middle-class families, and always faces conflicts between its highly-regarded self-identification and the various challenges it faces in attaining social recognition from the general public.

By examining a variety of tensions between CU and its key social actors, this research suggests a concept of “organizational dilemma” to capture the characteristics embedded in cross-border joint-universities in mainland China, and as an analytical model to unpack the tensions giving rise to the dilemmatic feature. The ambivalent situation of cross-border joint-universities such as CU emerges from regulative, normative, and cultural-cognitive challenges in complex social contexts, requiring cross-border joint-universities to apply different strategies to cope with institutional pressures, and bringing continuing challenges in organizational sustainability.