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July 29, 2026Higher Education PolicyOpen Access

Institutional Logics and Academic Work in China: Career Structures, Governance Mechanisms, and Researcher Responses

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Authors

LZLiang ZhaoGuangdong Ocean UniversityTSTommy ShihLund University

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Implication

Qualitative analysis reveals how national education policies impact academics' experiences, indicating significant emotional and identity challenges.

Key Points

  • This paper explores how national higher education priorities affect the daily experiences of academics in China.
  • Conducted 23 semi-structured interviews with academics from various Chinese universities.
  • Developed a layered filtering model to analyze the transformation of policy signals.
  • Supplemented findings with relevant documents for comprehensive insights.
  • Performance-based governance mechanisms were implemented, emphasizing quantitative evaluation and career thresholds.
  • Academics faced pressures from labor market imbalances and institutional stratification, leading to mobility and reorientation strategies.
  • Adaptations often resulted in emotional exhaustion, identity strain, and work-family tensions.

Cite This Study

Zhao et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a69a28ac8da07d9defa6040https://doi.org/10.1057/s41307-026-00461-3
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