Description:
This research identifies a range of issues and factors which impact on the formation of initial expectations developed by local university students wishing to study for a foreign degree program in Hong Kong. Key factors were foreign university Internet sites, exhibitions, agents and associations, brochures and friends. This is one of the first times this kind of research has been undertaken relating to the delivery of foreign programs within the home country, as previous research has tended to focus on study abroad, where the student travels to the foreign country to undertake a degree program. The research also considers how expectations change over time, as students undertake their study for a foreign degree program in Hong Kong, and develops the concept of continuous formation of expectations whereby students mould change, rebuild and continually revisit their expectations of the university program as they undertake a wide range of subjects. This part of the research is quite new and indicates the volatile and changeable nature of the educational service encounter. Both parts of the research are of value not just in regard to the location of the data collection but potentially further afield as an indicator of formative factors regarding expectations and in regard to the concept of continuous formation of expectations.
Description:
This research identifies a range of issues and factors which impact on the formation of initial expectations developed by local university students wishing to study for a foreign degree program in Hong Kong. Key factors were foreign university Internet sites, exhibitions, agents and associations, brochures and friends. This is one of the first times this kind of research has been undertaken relating to the delivery of foreign programs within the home country, as previous research has tended to focus on study abroad, where the student travels to the foreign country to undertake a degree program. The research also considers how expectations change over time, as students undertake their study for a foreign degree program in Hong Kong, and develops the concept of continuous formation of expectations whereby students mould change, rebuild and continually revisit their expectations of the university program as they undertake a wide range of subjects. This part of the research is quite new and indicates the volatile and changeable nature of the educational service encounter. Both parts of the research are of value not just in regard to the location of the data collection but potentially further afield as an indicator of formative factors regarding expectations and in regard to the concept of continuous formation of expectations.
Description:
This paper examines the effect of the Big Five personality traits on job satisfaction and subjective wellbeing (SWB). The paper also examines the mediating role of job satisfaction on the Big Five-SWB relationship. Data were collected from a sample of 818 urban employees from five Chinese cities: Harbin, Changchun, Shenyang, Dalian, and Fushun. All the study variables were measured with well-established multi-item scales that have been validated both in English-speaking populations and in China. The study found only extraversion to have an effect on job satisfaction, suggesting that there could be cultural difference in the relationships between the Big Five and job satisfaction in China and in the West. The study found that three factors in the Big Fiveextraversion, conscientiousness, and neuroticismhave an effect on SWB. This finding is similar to findings in the West, suggesting convergence in the relationship between the Big Five and SWB in different cultural contexts. The research found that only the relationship between extraversion and SWB is partially mediated by job satisfaction, implying that the effect of the Big Five on SWB is mainly direct, rather than indirect via job satisfaction. The study also found that extraversion was the strongest predictor of both job satisfaction and SWB. This finding implies that extraversion could be more important than other factors in the Big Five in predicting job satisfaction and SWB in a high collectivism and high power distance country such as China. The research findings are discussed in the Chinese cultural context. The study also offers suggestions on the directions for future research.
Description:
There is now a large range of studies that have considered various aspects and issues of Sino-foreign university collaboration – which remains a vexed and contentious issue. The aim of the present study is to identify the specific steps a group of Sino-foreign educational alliances took over their first two years – as viewed by Chinese and foreign university managers – as they struggled to develop a mature basis for ongoing alliance activity. The paper notes that the initial formative years were ones of stress and strain. A total of sixteen (16), sequential steps have been identified in this study, which also notes that, at times, these steps could be taken out of sequence. It was only by the latter steps that the two sides had really formed the basis for longer-term activity. (In short it took about two years to achieve some sense of viable and realistic understanding of the realities of setting up and managing an educational joint venture in China). The paper provides a basic 'roadmap' for university managers wishing to enter the China alliance market – and, at the same time, also makes some comments about some of the issues, problems and tensions which may arise within this crucial formative period. [Author abstract]
Description:
There is now a large range of studies that have considered various aspects and issues of Sino-foreign university collaboration – which remains a vexed and contentious issue. The aim of the present study is to identify the specific steps a group of Sino-foreign educational alliances took over their first two years – as viewed by Chinese and foreign university managers – as they struggled to develop a mature basis for ongoing alliance activity. The paper notes that the initial formative years were ones of stress and strain. A total of sixteen (16), sequential steps have been identified in this study, which also notes that, at times, these steps could be taken out of sequence. It was only by the latter steps that the two sides had really formed the basis for longer-term activity. (In short it took about two years to achieve some sense of viable and realistic understanding of the realities of setting up and managing an educational joint venture in China). The paper provides a basic 'roadmap' for university managers wishing to enter the China alliance market – and, at the same time, also makes some comments about some of the issues, problems and tensions which may arise within this crucial formative period. [Author abstract]
Description:
The aim of this study is to examine the influence of environmental satisfaction, job satisfaction, and Big Five personality traits on subjective well-being. Data were collected from white-collar workers across four Chinese cities in 2009. All the research variables were measured with multi-item instruments with good psychometric properties. The research found that environmental satisfaction, job satisfaction, conscientiousness and extraversion have a positive effect on subjective well-being. In addition, individuals married, managers and working in state sector were found to be happier in their lives than individuals who are single, in non-managerial position and in private sector. However, the research found no relationship between neuroticism, agreeableness and subjective well-being. The finding of a positive relationship between environmental satisfaction and subjective well-being suggests that by pursuing a balance between economic development and environmental protection, urban residents' SWB could be enhanced.
Description:
The aim of this study is to examine the influence of environmental satisfaction, job satisfaction, and Big Five personality traits on subjective well-being. Data were collected from white-collar workers across four Chinese cities in 2009. All the research variables were measured with multi-item instruments with good psychometric properties. The research found that environmental satisfaction, job satisfaction, conscientiousness and extraversion have a positive effect on subjective well-being. In addition, individuals married, managers and working in state sector were found to be happier in their lives than individuals who are single, in non-managerial position and in private sector. However, the research found no relationship between neuroticism, agreeableness and subjective well-being. The finding of a positive relationship between environmental satisfaction and subjective well-being suggests that by pursuing a balance between economic development and environmental protection, urban residents' SWB could be enhanced.
Description:
Is tradition dead in China?or, at least, are traditional values dead in a China that has moved progressively into a globalized society and market orientation? This is the question raised in this paper, which assessed how a range of traditional values were conceptualized by a younger generation of Chinese managers who now live and work in a variety of worldsglobal, local, international, and traditional. What was found that traditional values still remained used and relevant in China, but they had now tended to develop a harder and more westernized edgesharper, tougher, and more ruthless. Values that were once intuitive and almost innate now tended to be measured and compartmentalized. For example, the value of faceas a traditional valuewas still important but was now more than likely a value to be treated as an almost measurable aspect of behavior.
Description:
Is tradition dead in China?or, at least, are traditional values dead in a China that has moved progressively into a globalized society and market orientation? This is the question raised in this paper, which assessed how a range of traditional values were conceptualized by a younger generation of Chinese managers who now live and work in a variety of worldsglobal, local, international, and traditional. What was found that traditional values still remained used and relevant in China, but they had now tended to develop a harder and more westernized edgesharper, tougher, and more ruthless. Values that were once intuitive and almost innate now tended to be measured and compartmentalized. For example, the value of faceas a traditional valuewas still important but was now more than likely a value to be treated as an almost measurable aspect of behavior.
Description:
There are now over 5,000 alliances between Chinese and foreign universities but there is little research on how managers from the two sides value the various aspects of their educational alliances. This research finds that both sides valued a range of alliance levels, types, activities, sizes and structures but there were significant differences. Chinese respondents tended to prefer larger and higher level alliances which they perceived as being more long term, viable and indicative of foreign commitment. Foreign alliance managers liked to start their alliance associations in China with smaller scale alliance models which could then be expanded into larger and more complex alliances. Chinese alliance managers preferred an alliance model which aimed to establish a benchmark educational standard in China; foreign staff preferred what has been termed pragmatic alliances which were cheaper to organize and manage. Chinese respondents liked alliances which ensured that at least a range of foreign academic and administrative staff were located in China: foreign respondents preferred to fly staff in and out for particular projects and activities. More generally, foreign respondents discussed the value of alliances in business and income generation terms while their Chinese colleagues conceptualized the key value of alliances in terms of their ability to assist China to develop a highly skilled workforce capable of taking its place in an internationalized market economy.
Description:
Considerable research has been undertaken into the issue of Sino foreign strategic alliances in the area of higher education, particularly since the late 1990s, when universities in China signed an increasing large number of alliance agreements with foreign universities (Willis 2000, 2005a). Although there has been considerable research regarding various aspects of these alliances, including the types of activities undertaken, and the levels of alliances formed in this sector (Hayhoe 1989, 1996; Willis 2000), there has been less evaluation of the factors which have motivated the majority of Chinese universities to actively seek suitable foreign partners for collaboration particularly in regard to the delivery of activities and programs within China. This research identifies a range of factors driving the Chinese desire to form alliances with foreign universities. These in general relate to the special and somewhat idiosyncratic role of universities as agents of social and economic change in China. To effect this change they have often sought foreign partners who are able to assist China to develop a market economy. Universities within the Chinese top 100 university system have become increasingly selective in their choice of foreign universities and are requiring far higher levels of commitment than hitherto. It is now not unusual for foreign universities to deliver degree programs in China, and not just via study abroad and distance means. Gradually, over time, Chinese universities have become more discerning, particular and careful in the selection of foreign university partners. To this end, this paper identifies three distinct phases of Chinese university selection of foreign partners, dating back to 1978. The current phase, which emerged around 2000-2001 underscores the growing desire on the part of Chinese universities to select better quality, more committed and longer-term foreign partners-partly an issue of signing agreements with fewer, but better universities than in the past when a more “scattergun” approach was utilised.