Cross-cultural catalysts in international academic partnerships: Canadian technical assistance to Chinese and Ukrainian universities

Abstract

This study investigates the role of cross-cultural catalysts in the Canadian technical assistance projects that were contributing to the transformations of Chinese and Ukrainian universities. The analysis engages the interplay of the boundary objects theory and multi-structural governance theory to shed light on opportunities and challenges of the university transformations driven by international projects. In particular, this presentation examines the roles and characteristics of cross-cultural facilitators in balancing the legacies of academic practices in the two different worlds: on the one hand, a post-modernist society, driven by critical inquiry and learning (as represented by Canadian universities), and, on the other hand, post-totalitarian hyper-regulated institutions of specialized education (as represented by Chinese and Ukrainian universities).