The Time Inheritors: How Time Inequalities Shape Higher Education Mobility in China

Dr Cora Lingling Xu, Durham University

Abstract

Can a student inherit time? What difference does time make to their educational journeys and outcomes? In this talk, Dr Xu will discuss her book 'The Time Inheritors' (SUNY Press, 2025) which draws on nearly a decade of field research with more than one hundred youth in China to argue that intergenerational transfers of privilege or deprivation are manifested in and through time. Comparing experiences of rural-to-urban, cross-border, and transnational education, Dr Xu shows how inequalities in time inheritance help drive deeply unequal mobility. With its unique focus on time, nuanced comparative analysis, and sensitive ethnographic engagement, 'The Time Inheritors' opens new avenues for understanding the social mechanisms shaping the future of China and the world. Dr Xu will also introduce the 'Time Inheritance Mapping' tool which will inform the audience on how to analyse their own time inheritance profiles and strategise their next steps in a time-equitable way. 

Biography

Dr Cora Lingling Xu is Associate Professor at the School of Education in Durham. She is a sociologist interested in education mobilities and social inequalities. Her research examines how the intersection of class, gender, ethnicity, rural-urban divides, time, and geopolitics can shape social agents’ educational and life trajectories. She is an executive editor of the British Journal of Sociology of Education. Cora’s research on Chinese international students and Gaokao has been featured in BBC Radio 4's documentary 'Chinese on Campus', on BBC News and in South China Morning Post. Her research on time inequalities has been reported in multiple news outlets, such as Sixth Tone, The Paper, People Magazine (《人物》杂志) and New Books Network. Cora was a visiting scholar at the Centre for International Higher Education (CIHE), Boston College, USA in Spring 2025.

Joining Online
This event will be accessible via Microsoft Teams. If you would like to attend online, please contact ed.research@durham.ac.uk to request the Teams link.