Center for World-Class Universities: Rooted in China, Researching World-Class Excellence

As time flows like a song, our original aspiration remains steadfast. Since its establishment, the Center for World-Class Universities at the School of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University has been unwaveringly exploring the pathways for building world-class universities with Chinese characteristics. Through sustained dedication in academic research, policy consultation, and international cooperation, it has grown into a highly influential research base in the field of higher education.

1  Forging Ahead: Twenty Years of Persistent Pursuit of Academic Excellence

1.1 Center Development History

Established in 2005, the Center for World-Class Universities （CWCU） at the School of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University has consistently upheld its “three commitments” as the guiding philosophy for the past two decades, contributing wisdom and strength to China’s aspiration to become a leading power in higher education:

· Committed to academic research on world-class universities

· Committed to policy consultation for government on world-class universities

· Committed to international exchanges on world-class universities

1.2 Faculty Development

The center currently has 1 distinguished professor, 1 professor, 2 associate professors, 1 assistant professor, 1 postdoctoral researcher, and 1 research assistant.

2  Upholding Integrity and Fostering Innovation: Multi-dimensional Academic Brand Serving National Strategy

2.1 Systematic Quantitative Evaluation

Numbers reveal capacity, and metrics define positioning. On the journey toward building world-class universities, scientific and systematic quantitative evaluation serves as the cornerstone for identifying positions and measuring gaps. By constructing internationally comparable evaluation systems and publishing authoritative reports and data indicators, the center has continuously promoted the scientific rigor and internationalization of Chinese higher education evaluation, providing solid quantitative support for policy making and academic research.

2.1.1. International Comparative Evaluation Index System for World-Class Universities

In the late 1990s, as multiple domestic universities set the goal of building world-class universities, governments at various levels and the broader public  paid great attention to this initiative. Against this backdrop, it became imperative to address important questions such as the actual gap between China’s high-level universities and world-class ones, and how to accelerate the construction process by targeting key shortcomings.

Through systematic analysis of the basic characteristics of world-class universities and drawing on the experience of international universities and its discipline evaluations, the center developed an academic ranking of world universities with quantitative analysis at its core, considering international comparability, operability, and the balance between scale and quality (such as faculty- average indicators).

In 2003, the center developed and released the world’s first comprehensive multi-indicator world university ranking, establishing the “Chinese standard” for world university rankings and exerting a profound impact on the global higher education evaluation ecosystem.

2.1.2 The Blue Book and Index on World-Class University Construction

For China to build truly world-class universities and fundamentally transform its position in the semi-peripheral zone, it needs to engage in deeper academic dialogue and extensive value dissemination with universities, research institutions, academic organizations, and individuals from different countries and regions.

So, what constitutes the criteria for measuring a world-class university? What characteristics define such institutions?

The center’s flagship research output, The Blue Book of Building World-Class University addresses this question: “Talent cultivation, original research, distinguished scholars, economic contribution, brand influence, and service to national strategy constitute the fundamental pillars of a world-class university.” As a series of reports on world-class university construction and evaluation, it provides the latest developments and authoritative analysis in the field of world-class university development.

The Blue Book of Building World-Class University (2022-2024) published in 2025, reviews the literature on world-class university construction in China and abroad, compares development indices among leading universities worldwide, and analyzes typical cases of world-class universities both domestically and internationally. It focuses on two main themes: “Development Index” and “Reference Research.” The “Development Index” includes the construction of indices, indicator measurement, and group comparisons in six key areas of world-class universities: talent cultivation, original research, distinguished scholars, economic contribution, brand influence, and service to national strategy. “Reference Research” includes references from academic literature, policy evolution, university practices, and typical cases, providing policy recommendations for “Double First-Class” construction and serving as a reference for higher education researchers and practitioners. Additionally, The Blue Book of Building World-Class University (2020-2021) published in 2023 won the second prize of the 16th Shanghai Philosophy and Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award.

2.1.3 Telling China’s Education Story Through Data

General Secretary XI Jinping has pointed out that education is of paramount importance to the country and the Party. As the world is experiencing major changes unseen in a century, it has become increasingly important to communicate the true story of Chinese education to the world.

Edited by Professor LIU Niancai and Professor FENG Zhuolin from the research center, with the joint efforts of more than 20 faculty members from SOE, Education in China and the World has been released, aiming to elaborate on the development process, historical achievements, touching stories, and practical experiences of Chinese education. It compares similarities and differences between China and major world-class education powers through indicators, data, and text, explores future trends in education development, and presents a true picture of Chinese education and world education.

The book was launched at the Shanghai Book Fair in 2023 and globally published through the international academic publishing platform Springer in Open Access mode, allowing free access to readers worldwide. Since its publication, it has been read and downloaded over 220,000 times and won the Merit Award in the International Communication Category of the 19th Shanghai “Silver Dove Award”. This year, the book also received the 7th “China New Development Award” from Springer Nature (the only educational academic book to receive this award that year, and the first time Shanghai Jiao Tong University has won this award), achieving a dual breakthrough in academic value and communication influence. People’s Daily, Xinhua Net, Guangming Daily, China Education Daily, and other media reported on the new book launch.

2.2 An Important Base for Key Research on World-Class University Construction

Aspiring to broadness while attending to details. Based on the directions and issues revealed by systematic evaluation, the center is committed to building a high-end think tank and research hub that serves national strategies and supports “Double First-Class” construction. By undertaking major projects, submitting high-quality policy advisory reports, and producing a series of outstanding achievements, it has provided crucial theoretical support and practical pathways for building world-class universities with Chinese characteristics, earnestly fulfilling its core mission of policy research and decision support.

2.2.1 Base Projects

In recent years, the center has undertaken numerous important projects, including the Major Project of Philosophy and Social Sciences Research of the Ministry of Education “Research on the Promotion Mechanism and Effectiveness Evaluation of China’s University ‘Double First-Class’ Construction”, the Major Strategic Research Project of the Ministry of Education “World-Class University Construction and the Chinese Dream”, the Shanghai University Think Tank Connotation Construction Project “Collaborative Innovation Plan - World-Class University Research Center”, as well as projects funded by the National Social Science Fund, National Education Science Planning, Ministry of Education Humanities and Social Sciences Fund, and international cooperation research projects.

2.2.2 Construction Achievements

The center conducts policy research on major issues such as “Double First-Class” construction, scientific and technological talent cultivation, and higher education evaluation reform. It has submitted over 60 government advisory reports in the form of Expert Recommendations from the Ministry of Education Science and Technology Commission, with more than 50% being adopted. Among them, two reports Issues of ‘Four Selections’ in ‘Double First-Class’ and Policy Recommendations for Accelerating the Re-adaptation of China’s Young Returnee Scientific and Technological Talents through Multiple Measures received instructions from national leaders.

Reports such as Series of Recommendations on World-Class University Evaluation, Difficulties and Challenges in Cultivating and Using Strategic Scientists and Countermeasures, Policy Recommendations on Deepening Evaluation Reform to Promote ‘Double First-Class’ Construction, Anchoring Education Power 2035, Leading Excellence Construction with Graduate Education, and Problems and Countermeasures in Constructing a Chinese-Characteristics Higher Education Evaluation System have all been adopted by relevant departments.

To further promote the construction of world-class universities, in 2007, the Ministry of Education Strategic Research Base - World-Class University Research Center and the then Institute of Higher Education of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, based on their own strengths, absorbed excellent domestic and foreign research results, learned from various sources, and organized the publication of the World-Class University Series (WCU Series), which has published more than 30 works to date.

In addition, center researchers have published dozens of high-level academic papers in domestic and foreign authoritative journals such as Higher Education, and Studies in Higher Education. For example, the SSCI paper “Does the Tenure Track Influence Academic Research?” was reported by Xinhua News Agency, and papers such as “Measuring Global Common Goods in Higher Education” have exerted positive influence in the international academic community. Papers including “Hierarchical and Open Structures in the Global Science System” and “Construction of World-Class University Talent Cultivation Index Guided by Education Evaluation Reform” were published in important journals.

The center also provides professional advice on world-class university construction to relevant departments of the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Education through various forms such as individual consultations, special reports, and symposiums.

2.2.3 Achievement Awards

Quantitative Methods in University Research Evaluation and Deviation from Quality Orientation and Governance won the second prize of the 8th Outstanding Achievements in Scientific Research in Institutions of Higher Education (Humanities and Social Sciences);

Issues of ‘Four Selections’ in ‘Double First-Class’ won the third prize of the 6th National Outstanding Achievements in Educational Scientific Research;

Evaluation and Construction of World-Class Universities won the second prize of the 15th Shanghai Philosophy and Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award;

World-Class University Construction and the Chinese Dream and The Chinese Model of World-Class University Construction and Its International Influence both won the second prize of Shanghai Educational Scientific Research Outstanding Achievements (2014-2020);

The Blue Book of Building World-Class University (2020-2021) won the second prize of the 16th Shanghai Philosophy and Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award;

Research on the Promotion Mechanism and Effectiveness Evaluation of China’s University ‘Double First-Class’ Construction won the second prize of the 17th Shanghai Philosophy and Social Sciences Academic Outstanding Achievement Award (Monograph Category).

2.3 An Important International Platform for World-Class University Research

Rooted locally, yet with a global perspective. While solidifying domestic research foundations, the center has always maintained a broad international vision and actively constructed a global network for high-level dialogue and cooperation. Through in-depth participation in international conferences, conducting joint research, and initiating academic platforms, it not only tells the vivid practice of Chinese higher education to the world but also extensively absorbs global wisdom, promoting the construction of world-class universities through exchanges and mutual learning for common development.

Since 2005, the center has initiated and organized the International Symposium on World-Class Universities, held biennially, with nine successful sessions to date. Each session has brought together experts and scholars from multiple countries, regions, and international organizations, providing an important exchange platform for advancing theoretical research and practical development of world-class universities. SFEE 2025 and WCU-10 has held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University on November 15-16, 2025, with the theme “World-Class Universities: Promoting  Global Common Good”.

3  Steady Progress: Uniting Efforts to Build a World-Leading Educational Powerhouse in the New Journey

Standing at a new historical starting point, the Center for World-Class Universities will continue to adhere to the “three commitments” philosophy and focus on the goal of building an educational powerhouse, continuing to make efforts in the following areas:

· Deepening Academic Research: Conduct systematic research on major theoretical and practical issues in world-class university construction, producing more high-quality academic achievements.

· Enhancing Think Tank Services: Closely align with national “Double First-Class” construction needs, strengthen research on forward-looking and strategic issues, and provide more targeted policy recommendations.

· Expanding International Exchanges: Successfully organize WCU-10, promote the construction of the HEGCG platform, publish major reference books on world-class universities and Education in China and the World, and expand the international influence of Chinese higher education research.

· Strengthening Team Building: Focus on young talent cultivation, optimize team structure, and further enhance the ability to tackle educational challenges through academic community building.

The Center for World-Class Universities will be based in China, face the world, and continue to focus on world-class university construction, making new and greater contributions to accelerating the construction of an educational powerhouse and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Written by WANG Xiaorui

Proofread by LIU Niancai

Edited by CHEN Ruoxi