Tourism Higher Education Collaboration in China

ABSTRACT This study explores tourism higher education collaboration in China within the broader Chinese context of Government-Industry-Education- Research collaboration. Tourism higher education institutions frequently collaborate with government, industry, educational and research institutions; however, little academic research systematically and comprehensively explores such issues. This study provides a holistic approach to examine models of collaboration and analyze the nature of collaboration by bringing different collaborators together, namely: governments, industry, other educational and research institutions. It puts the discussion in a historical and broader context, and adopts a comparative approach. Western strategy and management theories as well as Chinese culture and philosophies are integrated in the discussion. The study views collaboration as a process and discusses the important factors for collaboration in the process. Theoretical and management implications are discussed. This research provides strategic and managerial implications to Chinese universities on their collaboration activities with governments, industry, other educational and research institutions.