In this study, we analyze data from 176 Chinese universities to examine the use of reputation symbols in official websites. We find that Chinese universities prefer professional and performative symbols more than moral symbols. Reputation symbols are mainly observed in teaching, research, history, and strategy categories, whereas their use in internal operations and external environment is limited. A comparison with samples from the United States and Nordic countries indicates that their universities differ in the use of reputation symbols, with relatively high emphasis on professional and moral symbols, respectively. This difference can be attributed to divergent national cultures, higher education regimes, and globalization. Here, we discuss the implications of our findings on reputation management by universities in a globalized world.
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