Resource Allocation in China’s Public Universities: Administrators’ Perceptions

In response to reforms leading to the decentralization of university governance, academic divisions in China’s public universities are expected to take responsibility for their financial health; however, it is unclear how universities allocate financial resources in response to external expectations, a research gap that this article seeks to fill. This article consists of two studies with different samples of individuals occupying mid-level administrative positions in China’s public universities (Study 1: n = 63; Study 2: n = 153). Study 1 reports on the adaptation of a survey used to measure administrators’ perceptions of university budgeting. Study 2 confirms the four-factor structure of the scale, updates the literature on current resource allocation practices in China’s public universities, and investigates the relationships between internal resource allocation and government functions. Findings suggest that, as perceived by administrators, certain elements of institutional resource allocation exhibit stronger relationships with government regulation and funding opportunities than others. The results suggest that the adapted survey can be used reliably to investigate personnel in Chinese universities and, in turn, provide some evidence to support a strategic balance perspective on resource allocation in China’s public universities.