From Scale Expansion to Connotative Development: The Historical Evolution, Practical Challenges, and Optimization Pathways of Operating Branch Campuses of Chinese Higher Education Institutions in Different Locations

As a spatial expansion practice where higher education institutions establish educational entities outside their main campuses, the operation of branch campuses in different locations is closely related to the mission and requirements that economic and social development place on higher education. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the establishment of branch campuses by Chinese higher education institutions has undergone four distinct phases: passive emergence under the planned economy, proactive exploration during the modernization drive, rapid development following the cross-century enrollment expansion, and quality-oriented standardization amid connotative development in the new era. Over more than seven decades of exploration and practice, remarkable achievements have been made at the macro level in such areas as serving the country's major national development strategies, optimizing the distribution of higher education resources, and improving the governance mechanism of modern universities. At the micro level, however, practical challenges persist, including disconnections between planning and implementation, inadequate internal and external coordination, difficulties in balancing resource allocation with individualized development needs, and insufficient integration of cultural inheritance with innovation. To address such pressing issues, it is imperative to establish a flexible and dynamic mechanism for management, a clear and accountable collaborative network, a diversified and adaptable resource distribution model, and a harmonious cultural ecosystem that fosters integration and symbiosis. These measures will promote the sustainable development of operating branch campuses in different locations, as well as provide strategic support for boosting regional economic growth and the country's strength in education.