Academic Scientific JournalsExploring the Role of Counselors Amidst Governance Dynamics: Authoritarian in the Chinese Higher Education Context?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26881/ndps.2023.48.07Keywords:
a counselor, student affairs, authoritative figure, Chinese higher educationAbstract
This article explores the unique role of college counselors in China, combining theoretical statements and case analyses. In China, the term “Fu Dao Yuan” refers to counselors who have a wider range of responsibilities and greater authority than their English counterparts. They are the backbone of ideological and political education for Chinese college students, serving as both teachers and friends. Counselors must have solid knowledge of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Communist Party of China, psychology, and other relevant topics. They typically perform duties in nine sections, including ideological and political theory education, as well as Party and League construction. Counselors are on the front line of student affairs, acting as a bridge between the school and students. They help students with various problems related to life and study. Counselors hold authority for students, as their notices represent official school news. However, counselors are also sandwiched between students and the school, similar to a sausage in a hot dog. Comparing the handling mechanisms of student affairs in western universities, the author highlights the benefits of the counselor system to schools and students while counselors face pressure due to their authoritarian nature.
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