Cultivating Cultural Confidence

This book examines how general education in Chinese universities cultivates cultural confidence among college students, addressing the evolving landscape of Chinese higher education.

Situated within the context of China’s higher education reforms and global engagement, the book integrates theoretical analysis, policy review, and empirical research to explore effective integration models between general education and cultural confidence. Through document analysis, surveys, interviews, and case studies from a range of Chinese universities, it analyses national and provincial policies, institutional practices, and students' lived experiences. The book identifies successful strategies for embedding cultural confidence into curricula, teaching methods, and campus culture, while also confronting persistent challenges. By offering evidence-based recommendations and comparative insights, it contributes to international conversations on general education, cultural identity, and educational innovation.

The research findings provide actionable guidance for educational policymakers, university leaders, and educators aiming to design curricula that not only equip students with knowledge and skills but also foster a deep sense of cultural identity and confidence. Additionally, the book will appeal to graduate students and scholars interested in higher education, general education, cultural studies, and comparative education.

Yuanyuan Shi, Associate Professor at the School of Teacher Education, Jiangsu University in China, is now a visiting researcher at the Graduate School of Human-Environment Studies, Kyushu University in Japan. Her expertise lies in the realms of international and comparative education, with a focus on higher education systems, general education, university curricula, interdisciplinary approaches to learning, AI-integrated higher education, and the dynamics of postgraduate education.

Yeow-Tong Chia, Senior Lecturer in History Education in the School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney. His research focuses on comparative and international education, particularly history and citizenship education in Singapore, China, and Australia. He examines curriculum, nation‑building, and policy transfer in Asia‑Pacific contexts. He is the Teachers’ Representative on the Asian Studies Association of Australia Council and President of the Malaysia and Singapore Society of Australia.