Student mobility in the Greater China region: A political economy perspective

This paper uses Greater China as an umbrella descriptor of mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. It argues that the complexities of cross-border flow of students and associated educational collaboration and policies in the Greater China region can only be understood in relation to the broader political economy of cross-border higher education in the region. To illustrate this argument, the paper examines the tension between different values and functions of cross-border higher education. It then outlines four themes, namely education industry, talent competition, political agenda and social ideals, which are seen as the core components of the discourse on policy of cross-border higher education in Greater China. The paper seeks to show the tensions between the different aspects and agendas of intra-national student mobility, and to discuss their possible impacts on policy direction for cross-border education within the region.