Research on the Diffusion of Innovation Within Higher Education: Case of Double First-rate Initiative in the Chinese Mainland

ABSTRACT: World-class university construction is a systematic and complex project led by the government with the purpose of constructing world-class universities or disciplines, and has far-reaching national strategic implications. In recent years, the academia has tried to analyse China's world-class university construction based on Support Alliance Theory, Multiple Streams Framework, Policy Tool Theory, and Process Reen-gineering Theory. Although domestic scholar has tried to use the Diffusion of Innovation Theory to study higher education policies in provincial administrative regions, the perspective only focuses on the mechanisms. As a significant innovation within higher education, the diffusion of Double First-rate Initiative in the Chinese Mainland refers to whether the policy can be promoted rationally and successfully. Based on the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, this research takes Double First-rate Initiative as a case, constructs a prelimenary analysis framework for the diffusion of Double First-rate Initiative, and furtherly explores the fundamental pathways, influencing factors and important mechanisms. Findings reveal that the diffusion of Double First-rate Initiative can be explained by the Diffusion of Innovation Theory; shows uniqueness in the time, spatial and organisational dimensions; implies horizontal, vertical and multidirectional diffusion mechanisms; is affected by factors such as motivation, resource, external environment and policy attribute.