View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Liberal arts education through a Confucian lens: contextualization and indigenization.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Liberal arts education through a Confucian lens: contextualization and indigenization.
Authors: Mou, Leping (AUTHOR)
Source: Studies in Higher Education. Jun2026, Vol. 51 Issue 6, p1189-1202. 14p.
Subjects: Confucianism, Decolonization, Acculturation, General education, East Asians, Moral education, Higher education, Philosophy of education
Geographic Terms: Taiwan, East Asia, Hong Kong (China), China
Abstract: Originating in Greco-Roman philosophy and embedded in American higher education, Liberal Arts Education (LAE) has evolved into a global model of undergraduate education. Despite its Western origins, LAE is gaining prominence in diverse contexts, particularly in East Asia. While previous research has explored this global trend, regional variations, and specific cases of LAE, it remains unclear how to understand its adaptation in non-Western contexts without reducing it to a mere decoupling process. Using three case studies and drawing on data from university documents and interviews with faculty members and administrators, this study explores the contextualization and indigenization of LAE in three societies – mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan – that share a common Confucian heritage. The findings reveal that, in these societies, LAE incorporates values and educational thoughts rooted in Confucian traditions in the concept and goals. LAE is referred to as Boya Jiaoyu in Chinese and emphasizes the concept of 'person-making' (zuoren) drawing on whole person development in Confucian tradition, an egalitarian approach to education, and education as a long-term continuous project. This study demonstrates that the core understanding and values of LAE in East Asian contexts diverge from their Western counterparts by emphasizing Confucian educational philosophy rather than Western democratic tradition. This research holds significant implications for the adaptation of LAE in non-Western societies and contributes to the decolonization and indigenization of higher education reforms by uncovering and embracing their distinct social traditions and cultural values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Studies in Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 194222909
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Liberal arts education through a Confucian lens: contextualization and indigenization.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mou%2C+Leping%22">Mou, Leping</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Studies+in+Higher+Education%22">Studies in Higher Education</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 51 Issue 6, p1189-1202. 14p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Confucianism%22">Confucianism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decolonization%22">Decolonization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Acculturation%22">Acculturation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22General+education%22">General education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22East+Asians%22">East Asians</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Moral+education%22">Moral education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+education%22">Higher education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Philosophy+of+education%22">Philosophy of education</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Taiwan%22">Taiwan</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22East+Asia%22">East Asia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hong+Kong+%28China%29%22">Hong Kong (China)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Originating in Greco-Roman philosophy and embedded in American higher education, Liberal Arts Education (LAE) has evolved into a global model of undergraduate education. Despite its Western origins, LAE is gaining prominence in diverse contexts, particularly in East Asia. While previous research has explored this global trend, regional variations, and specific cases of LAE, it remains unclear how to understand its adaptation in non-Western contexts without reducing it to a mere decoupling process. Using three case studies and drawing on data from university documents and interviews with faculty members and administrators, this study explores the contextualization and indigenization of LAE in three societies – mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan – that share a common Confucian heritage. The findings reveal that, in these societies, LAE incorporates values and educational thoughts rooted in Confucian traditions in the concept and goals. LAE is referred to as Boya Jiaoyu in Chinese and emphasizes the concept of 'person-making' (zuoren) drawing on whole person development in Confucian tradition, an egalitarian approach to education, and education as a long-term continuous project. This study demonstrates that the core understanding and values of LAE in East Asian contexts diverge from their Western counterparts by emphasizing Confucian educational philosophy rather than Western democratic tradition. This research holds significant implications for the adaptation of LAE in non-Western societies and contributes to the decolonization and indigenization of higher education reforms by uncovering and embracing their distinct social traditions and cultural values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Studies in Higher Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194222909
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/03075079.2025.2499955
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 1189
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Confucianism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Decolonization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Acculturation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: General education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: East Asians
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Moral education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Higher education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Philosophy of education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Taiwan
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: East Asia
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hong Kong (China)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Liberal arts education through a Confucian lens: contextualization and indigenization.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mou, Leping
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 03075079
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 51
            – Type: issue
              Value: 6
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Studies in Higher Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1