Innovation Ecosystem Dynamics and Competitiveness Among Private Colleges and Universities

This study examines the relationship between innovation ecosystem dynamics and institutional competitiveness among private colleges and universities in Jiangxi Province, China. Using a quantitative descriptive-correlational design, the study surveyed 500 stakeholders across 29 private higher education institutions using a researcher-developed instrument measuring innovation ecosystem dynamics, R&D investment, stakeholder involvement, and competitiveness. Descriptive analysis showed that while stakeholder involvement was consistently high, overall innovation ecosystem performance, particularly R&D capacity, remained moderate. Competitiveness rankings revealed that smaller institutions outperformed larger ones across instruction quality, research productivity, and social service contribution. Contrary to theoretical expectations, Spearman correlation results indicated no significant positive relationship between innovation ecosystem components and competitiveness; instead, several significant negative correlations emerged, most notably between R&D capacity and competitiveness indicators. These findings suggest a structural misalignment in which resource-limited institutions invest in ecosystem activities that do not translate into competitive advantage and may even divert critical resources away from core instructional and community functions. The study highlights the need for a refined competitiveness framework that emphasizes strategic internal alignment, selective ecosystem engagement, and context-specific innovation policies tailored to the realities of private institutions in resource-constrained environments.