Rankings dominate higher education policy making, although little is known about the experiences of those involved in perpetuating rankings. This paper explores middle-level academic leaders' sensemaking about university rankings and related policies in East Asia. Since university rankings have affected higher education policies and strategies…

The purpose of this study is to explore the strategies used by universities to promote their positive images. A university in China known for its success in promoting its image is cited as a typical example of the strategies it employs. The researchers were given permission to review related files of the university offices and relevant university…

Increasingly, higher education institutions (HEIs) are using different signals in attracting students to enroll with them. This study explores the signals sent by HEIs and determines through factor analysis that placements, brand name, and infrastructure act as the attractive signals that influence students' choice of HEI in India. The authors…

Initiatives to build research universities to have world-class universities, the creator and the disseminator of scientific knowledge in knowledge-based economies, are among the most important policy reactions in higher education systems. With an increase in demands on greater accountability, transparency, and efficiency, studies investigating the…

Although higher education is positioned as a site of opportunity for young women in the UK, not all female applicants experience straightforward pathways into this arena. This paper focuses on a group of 16 high-achieving girls from working-class backgrounds who are striving for academic success, in the form of top grades and places at high-tariff…

In the current hierarchical system of higher education, regional universities in China face the dilemma of homogenization and marginalization. There is an urgent need to find a high-quality development path that suits their own characteristics. From the theoretical perspective of "academic drift", this study focuses on the influence that…

Based on a qualitative study of the motivating factors behind the consumption of international schooling by elite Nigerian parents, this article explores what a group of elite parents perceived as the indicators of high-quality education. The findings suggest that these parents did not consider 'good grades' as an indicator of high-quality…

This paper focuses on educational equity in China using the experience of school choice reform in Shanghai. The education authority in Shanghai has launched a host of policy measures to address "school choice fever" (zexiao re) where parents compete to enrol their children in a top-performing school. The policy initiative has been…

Chinese higher education institutions are facing an increasing threat of campus crises, especially the academic and sexual misconduct of faculty members, which have caused severe impacts on the reputation and development of universities and colleges. Crisis communication strategies are one of the critical measures for universities and colleges to…

Objectives: Previous research highlights the strong correlation between certain personality traits and individual career adaptability levels, yet the role of competitive personality remains underexplored. This study aims to fill the gaps by assessing the relationship between competitive attitudes and career adaptability among Chinese college…

Student recruitment is essential for higher education institutions. There are various strategies to consider when organising student admissions and meeting recruitment objectives. Coopetition, which can be defined as cooperating with competitors, is one of them. Our qualitative study examines the elements at stake for French business schools that…

Purpose: Grounded in social cognitive theory, this study examines the role of responsible leadership in enhancing the reputation of universities within Bangladeshi higher education. Specifically, it explores the antecedents, outcomes and moderating factors influencing university reputation by connecting it with responsible leadership, teaching…

This paper explores the way in which elite students from Germany and Romania understand the role of talent, effort, and structural factors in shaping educational success and failure. The image of a successful student aligns with the requirements of the selection processes, with Romanian students emphasising effort, and German students projecting…

Private higher education institutions in Ghana offering continuing and professional education have multiple affiliations with diverse public and foreign universities as a result of varied programs on offer. The article sought to explore the benefits as well as the challenges that mentee private higher education institutions face in the affiliation…

This study aims to develop a comprehensive framework to assess the level of satisfaction among students in their fourth year of undergraduate studies specializing in early childhood education in China during their practical teacher training (PTT). Drawing upon customer satisfaction theory and pertinent literature, the research employs factor…