Urban higher education development with Chinese characteristics–The case of Shenzhen

In the age of higher education globalization and marketization, regional development of higher education in China diversifies as a result of the processes of decentralization both localize and stratify the Chinese institutions. The higher education sector in Shenzhen has developed rapidly over the last four decades and it is now home to a number of leading universities and colleges as an emerging education hub in South China. This paper aims to understand the local process in Shenzhen, through a case study of its higher education sector, drawing on interviews with city policymakers and university managers as well as other extent literature and materials. By dividing the process into three different phases, this paper begins by providing a periodized description of the higher education development in the city. Then, it summarizes Shenzhen’s experience in promoting its higher education through negotiating with and navigating within the existing policy framework. Finally, it concludes by discussing a potential ‘Shenzhen model’ of higher education development and providing further information for international scholars to better understand the higher education development in the city context of China.