Mapping the Invisible Ties: A Network Analysis of Institutional Partnerships of Short-Term Study Abroad Programs in Chinese 985 Universities

This study aims to explore the dynamics of the network of short-term study abroad (STSA) programs among Chinese 985 Project universities by employing the method of social network analysis (SNA). With the application of a two-mode network framework (comprising Chinese universities and foreign partner institutions), archival data from 39 official university websites were collected and analyzed to map the patterns of STSA program collaborations. Key metrics include network centrality, clustering, and core-periphery structure. The results show that the STSA programs among Chinese 985 Project universities are generally rich in number and diversity. It displays a centralized structure in regard to the collection of foreign universities: the network is highly connected in general, with an apparent sign of core and periphery members in the network. Its short average path length and high clustering coefficient align with the character of small-world network in the academic community. It also indicates that when Chinese 985 universities are choosing their foreign STSA program partners, there is a high similarity among their choices since English-speaking countries are in the dominant position.