The Transformation of University Governance Abroad Under the Perspective of New Public Management

Abstract

Known as New Public Management (NPM) or New Managerialism, this approach has been the predominant guiding philosophy in Western university governance since the 1980s. The core of this philosophy emphasizes customer supremacy and market competition, advocating for customer needs and orientations by incorporating market mechanisms to stimulate innovation in universities. Additionally, NPM emphasizes clear accountability, output orientation, and performance evaluation. It requires universities to set clear goals and plans in their operations, quantify their outputs, and proactively accept market supervision and evaluation. Influenced by this theory, Western university governance has undergone significant transformation. The role of the government has shifted from that of a manager to a service provider, offering more policy support and resource guarantees for students. Meanwhile, after introducing market mechanisms, university governance has shifted from government-dominated to multi-centric governance, granting universities greater autonomy and decision-making power, allowing them to independently adjust their development strategies according to market needs and social changes. These transformations have injected new vitality into the development of Western universities and provided useful references for university governance reforms in other countries.