The Yuanpei Program in Peking University: A Case Study of Curriculum

In this review of The Yuanpei Program in Peking University: A Case Study of Curriculum Innovation, the reviewer finds a focused academic account valuable for educators and researchers interested in curriculum reform. The book documents an institution-wide initiative modeled on a Western core curriculum and explains the major conflicts that emerged during initiation and implementation. Readers looking for a qualitative, case-based analysis will appreciate the clear use of conflict theory and interview-based evidence to trace how stakeholders-administrators, teachers and students-experienced and shaped the reform.

Key Features

• Institution-wide focus: Examines the Yuanpei program as a comprehensive curriculum innovation affecting governance and teaching across the university.
• Qualitative case study: Uses interviews, observations and document analysis to provide direct insight into the lived experience of reform participants.
• Conflict model analysis: Interprets implementation challenges through conflict theory to explain sources and evolution of disputes.
• Multiple stakeholder perspectives: Incorporates accounts from administrators, teachers and students to present a rounded view of tensions and responses.
• Comparative inspiration: Describes how the program was modeled on a core curriculum approach, offering a point of reference for curriculum designers.

Who It's For

This book is best suited to academics, graduate students and policy makers studying higher education reform, curriculum design and conflict management in institutional change. Its detailed qualitative method and theoretical framing make it useful as a case example in courses on educational policy or organizational studies.

Practitioners seeking step-by-step implementation guides or prescriptive toolkits should look elsewhere; the emphasis here is analytical rather than procedural. Readers expecting broad comparative data across many institutions will find the single-case focus limiting.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Offers a thorough, evidence-based account grounded in interviews and document analysis.
• The use of a conflict model gives a clear theoretical lens for interpreting reform dynamics.
• Includes multiple stakeholder voices, which helps illuminate differing priorities and responses.

Cons

• The single-case, qualitative approach limits generalizability for readers wanting broad statistical validation.
• It is primarily analytic and does not provide a practical implementation checklist for immediate application.

Specifications

Title	The Yuanpei Program in Peking University: A Case Study of Curriculum Innovation
Author	Wanying Wang
Scope	Institution-wide curriculum innovation
Methodology	Qualitative case study with interviews, observations and document analysis
Theoretical lens	Conflict theory (conflict model)
Primary subjects	Administrators, teachers and students

Our Verdict

The Yuanpei Program case study is a valuable scholarly resource for those analyzing higher education change and curriculum innovation; it brings a thoughtful qualitative analysis grounded in stakeholder testimony and conflict theory. While not a how-to manual, its deep look at sources and evolution of conflict makes it worthwhile for researchers and policy makers seeking evidence-based insight into institutional reform.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book use quantitative data?
No, the study is primarily qualitative, relying on interviews, observations and document analysis rather than quantitative measures.

Who were the interview subjects?
Interviewees included university administrators, teachers and students involved in the Yuanpei program's initiation and implementation.

Is this a practical guide for implementing curriculum change?
Not directly; the book analyzes conflicts and their sources rather than offering a step-by-step implementation checklist.