论非精英大学的非凡意义

On the Extraordinary Important Role of Non-Elite Universities

非精英大学意指与单一化精英主义理念相悖的、重在培养应用型或技术技能型人才的非研究型大学,是当今科研导向下学术资本与声誉资本较为薄弱的高校的一种理想类型。然而,在“精英大学等于好大学”“非精英大学等于平庸大学”的高校等级体系下,数量庞大的非精英大学处于被遮蔽的弱势地位,其之于现代化发展的重要性难以获得对等的地位认同。精英大学与非精英大学两极分化的背后,映射出精英主义与优绩主义相互驱动所引发的社会焦虑。面向未来,在肯定精英大学勇于探索未知边界的同时,也要看到非精英大学之于培养普通人进而塑造美好社会的非凡意义。

Non-elite universities are to provide vocational training and develop a skilled workforce.Compared with elite research universities,those non-elite ones usually carry less “academic capital” and“reputation capital”,due to the prevailing research-focused environment in higher education institutions today.As a result,there has appeared a hierarchical system of institutions,with a few elite universities on the top of the hierarchy in resources and esteem,and numerous non-elite ones at the bottom.However,the increasing stratification between elite universities(regarded as “good universities”)and non-elite universities(regarded as “bad universities”)is rather detrimental.On the one hand,the prevalent meritocratic myth would push us to explore the unknown and challenge new frontiers but also bring us overwhelming stress and anxiety.On the other hand,the monolithic elitist ideology would make us depreciate or ignore the significant role played by non-elite universities in educating the mass,promoting China's modernization,and building a better society for all.