Enhancing the Awareness of the Cultural Diversities in Chinese Universities when Implementing International Strategies: Challenges and Opportunities
Internationalisation is one of the most powerful forces for change in contemporary higher education.(引用) In recent years, a growing number of Chinese Universities have implemented strategies of internationalisation. Against the background of the implementation of the “Belt and Road” Initiative and the“Double First-Class” Initiative, Chinese universities are facing the unprecedented opportunities of internationalisation. In a globalised world, Chinese Universities should understand cultural diversities in promoting their internationalisation strategies and put it into practice, to create a welcoming international community on campus.
1.0 Challenges ChineseUniversities Face
At the initial phase of Internationalisation in Chinese universities, there is a substantial lack of emphasis on cultural diversities, even though there are a variety of activities open specifically to international students and staff. Blindness to cultural differences in international communication always happen on Chinese campus. Here are cases that took place in one of the leading universities in China.
Senior officers of Chinese university leadershiphave to attend formal or informal meetings with their counterparts from othercountries. Sometimes they use humours, for instance jokes to make theconversation much lighter. Meanwhile, they need interpreters to translate. Ashumours are culture-loaded skills, if the listeners do not have samebackground, it is possible for the foreign guests to understand humours, evenif they are translated into a foreign language. Slangs are also culturallycharacteristic in languages. However, Chinese senior officers of universitiesare keen on using slangs when they meet representatives from overseasuniversities. Even if they are translated into a foreign language accurately,it may not accurately understood by listeners.
2.0 Measures can be taken to address potential problems
To be able to have successful internationalcommunication with overseas communications, a series of measure can be taken.
To begin with, the professionals working with InternationalOffices of Chinese universities should be cautious of and trained to have goodunderstanding about international communication. Usually, they majored inforeign languages or international relations, and nowadays graduates fromoverseas universities are recruited to work with international offices. Theyhave basics and experiences of understanding the cultural diversities.Nevertheless, trainings and self-study are necessary for them. For instance,before the delegation of overseas delegation visit China, it is necessary tomake preparation focusing on the specific countries.
Secondly, it is much more necessary for seniorofficers, such as presidents, vice presidents, particularly those in charge ofinternational collaboration to be aware of cultural diversities. For manyoccasions, they are the representatives of a university. Their presences are onbehalf of an institution. In the process of internationalisation of highereducation, it is important to keep Chinese characteristics, however it is evenmore important to have global visions, among which understanding culturaldiversities is the most essential one. There are different approaches toachieve this. First and foremost, they should attach great emphasis on thistopic, since it is an indispensable and inevitable part of internationalisationof higher education. A successful international communication is half done ofthe success of a collaborations with overseas universities. Following by this,it might be a good idea to invite expert in international communication tooffer trainings.
Thirdly, basics of cultural diversities should be learned university-wide. Since international strategy is an institutional endeavour, involving both administrative offices and academic schools, they should also engage in the understanding about the cultural diversities. One ofthe primary reasons is that the deans or directors are often present at
meetings with overseas universities. Their verbal and non-verbal communications
are both important for a university’s image. Moreover, there is a growing
number of international staff and students working or studying in Chinese
universities. According to statistics of
Institute of International Education’s Project Atlas, there were 442, 773
international students in China with an increase of 11.4% comparing to 2016. （引用） In
2020 this number will reach 500, 000 as the Ministry of Education planned. Without good understanding about the culturaldiversities, unnecessary misunderstandings may arise.
3.0 Internationalisationand Localisation
Diversity of nationalities of both staff andstudents is one of the obvious features for globally renowned universities. Accordingly,cultural diversities are an inevitable trend in the development of highereducation in the globalised world. Understanding the cultural diversities areapplied to both Chinese and western universities. It should be a common sensethat without awareness and practice of cultural diversity, there would be nosuccessful internationalisation.
