China's private universities

China's expansion of universities has not been on a level playing field. Earlier this year, Education Minister Guiren Yuan declared that the government must treat both public and private universities equally. As founder and president of one of China's largest private universities, I wholeheartedly agree. China's private universities can help usher in new opportunities for social and economic development, but they must be enabled to launch robust education programs and compete for research grants. Unless the government loosens restrictions on such endeavors, private universities could enter a tailspin, and such an erosion of higher education could threaten social stability.