The Impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on Chinese Higher Education

Abstract

When the Chinese government created an economic path with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, many domestic policies were amended after extensive research conducted on industrial development. However, there have been few study to date of the relationship between the BRI and higher education (HE). This paper analyzes how the BRI influences China’s HE to generate greater opportunities for cross-border collaboration amongst the countries along the route. The three pillars of the triple-helix system—government, industry and institutions—were examined. The paper argues that HE within the BRI is a complex system comprised of many stakeholders and notes several transformations currently taking place in highly HE-oriented industries. These findings pave the way for both Chinese policymakers and their counterparts at HE to build mutual understanding and promote further international collaboration.