重审高等教育学史

Historiography of Higher Education Research as a Field of Study:Redefining Its Nature,Scope and Significance

长期以来,高等教育学史不仅薄弱,而且对其性质、对象、意义等关键核心问题的认识仍然存在一些偏差与误区。从性质来看,高等教育学史研究应从史论纷争到史论统一,确认历史研究和元理论研究的双重性质,追求历史与逻辑的有机统一。从对象来看,高等教育学史研究应从内外分隔到内外兼修,要兼顾乃至融合学科的内外部历史,深入探讨知识与制度的双向联动关系,以此把握高等教育学史的完整谱系、内在机制与总体规律。从意义来看,高等教育学史研究应从单一向度到多维观照,不再局限于历史学的单一向度,而是要追寻理论建设、制度建设、文化建设的多重意义。未来高等教育学史的研究视域不能只限定于中国的高等教育学而沦为地方知识,整个世界高等教育研究的历史都应该纳入其研究范围。新时代的中国高等教育学只有通过加强学科史研究,才能提升理论建设与学科反思的主动性和自觉性,为建构高等教育学自主知识体系奠定坚实的基础。

Historiography of higher education research(HER)remains an under-developed field of study,partly due to our misconceptions and misunderstandings of its nature,scope,and significance.Firstly,historiography of HER is,by nature,an integration of historical studies and metatheoretical analysis.It adopts a historical perspective on philosophical ideas as well as a philosophical perspective on historical explanations.Secondly,historiography of HER explores the interaction between educational theories and social institutions,examining the external and internal history of HER.It covers HER both in China and abroad.Thirdly,historiography of HER not only provides a historical account of the evolution of theories in HER,but also helps to build effective institutions and promote a strong academic culture for HER as a discipline.In a word,historiography of HER as a field of study provides a panoramic view of and inspires critical reflection upon the scholarship in HER.It is,therefore,indispensable for establishing HER as an independent academic discipline.