Dilemmas and Institutional Innovation Paths of Synergy Among Running Subjects in Applied Undergraduate Education: From the Perspective of Institutional Change Theory

Abstract

As a core carrier connecting higher education and industrial development, applied undergraduate education is a key force for advancing the classified development of higher education, cultivating high-quality applied talents, and serving the high-quality development of regional economy and society. As the core support for the high-quality development of applied undergraduate education, the synergy efficiency of running subjects directly determines the depth of industry-education integration, the quality of talent cultivation and the ability to serve industries.However, the synergy among running subjects of applied undergraduate education in China is currently generally trapped in the dilemma of "formalistic cooperation", with the three core subjects of government, universities and enterprises presenting a governance deadlock of "government-driven, university-passive and enterprise-detached". Based on the core perspective of institutional change theory, combined with the quantitative analysis of industry-education integration policy texts in 31 provinces across China (2019-2023) and the cross-case comparison of three types of typical applied undergraduate universities, this paper systematically defines the theoretical connotation and core dimensions of the synergy among running subjects, deeply analyzes the manifestation and generation mechanism of the synergy dilemma, draws on the experience and enlightenment of international typical governance models, and finally puts forward the institutional innovation path of "symmetric rights and responsibilities, benefit sharing, and capacity synergy". It provides a solid theoretical support and operable practical guidance for breaking the dilemma of synergy among running subjects and promoting the connotative development of applied undergraduate education.