基金会资助:美国研究型大学崛起的推动力

Philanthropic Funding for Research Universities:The American Experience and Its Implications for China

19世纪末至20世纪上半叶,在美国研究型大学崛起历程中,现代慈善基金会扮演着极为重要的角色,从历史发展角度探查基金会在美国研究型大学崛起过程中的角色与作用对当下我国“双一流”大学建设具有重要意义。基金会代表社会资源支持研究型大学的高级组织形式,资金由当时商业上极为成功的人士提供,这些成功人士以私人财富促进公共福利的举动前所未有,其科学慈善理念影响至今。基金会对研究型大学采取改革性、倾向性的资助策略,基于自身的调查研究有针对性地资助重点研究型大学;采取优胜劣汰的商业竞争策略对不同大学和大学内部的不同学科展开有侧重点的资助。在基金会的外力推拉作用下,美国研究型大学的发展以学科进步、知识增进为主要特征,通过与基金会等社会资源的互动强力崛起。

Philanthropic foundations had greatly promoted the development of American research universities,especially during the late19 th to early 20 th century.As a form of private funding for research,this philanthropic support typically came from very successful business people.By providing competitive funding for research on specific topic areas in prestigious universities,these philanthropy foundations had played a critical role in advancing science and learning,as well as catalyzed the rapid growth of American research universities.Such a concept of"Philanthropy for Science",which has exerted a far-reaching influence in the U.S.,also has implications for our building of"Double First-Class"Universities in China today.