About
Ming Cheng is a Professor of Higher Education at the Sheffield Institute of Education. She has over 15 years’ international experience of teaching and research in British and Chinese universities.
Ming is interested in exploring ways of improving the quality of university education, enhancing academics’ professionalism, and improving students’ learning experiences.
Her work has been published in Higher Education, Studies in Higher Education, Quality in Higher Education, Higher Education Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and Development, Teaching in Higher Education and the Journal of Further and Higher Education. Her research has featured in the University World News and the Economist Group.
Ming has a track record of winning research grants from external funding bodies such as Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), Higher Education Academy (HEA), QA-QE SIG funding, Society for Ï㽶ÊÓƵ into Higher Education (SRHE), British Association for International and Comparative Education (BAICE), and Arts and Humanities Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Council (AHRC). She recently received the 2020 Innovative Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in International Education Award issued by NAFSA’s Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship Knowledge Community (TLS KC).
Publications
Journal articles
MacKenzie, A., Hoskins, K., Xu, Y., Wong, B., Cheng, M., & Read, B. (2025). . British Educational Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Journal.
Cheng, M., & Albia, J. (2024). . Studies in Higher Education.
Khoo, S.-.M., Harney, O., Hogan, M., Prinsloo, P., Algers, A., Belluigi, D., ... Stein, S. (2024). . Quality in Higher Education.
Cheng, M., & Yu, Y. (2024). . Journal of Studies in International Education, 28 (4), 663-681.
Cheng, M., Shen, Q., & Cai, S. (2024). . Journal of Asian Public Policy, 1-17.
Hoskins, K., Wong, B., Mckenzie, A., Xu, Y., Cheng, M., & Read, B. (2024). . British Educational Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Journal.
Jin, G., Cai, S., & Cheng, M. (2023). . Technology Knowledge and Learning.
Albia, J., & Cheng, M. (2023). . Higher Education Quarterly.
Cheng, M., Adekola, O., Albia, J., & Cai, S. (2022). . Higher Education Evaluation and Development, 16 (1), 16-31.
Cheng, M. (2022). . Intercultural Communication Education, 5 (1), 17-32.
Cheng, M., & Al Shukaili, J. (2022). . Quality in Higher Education, 1-19.
Shah, M., Mahadevan, K., & Cheng, M. (2022). . Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education, 26 (1), 28-37.
Cheng, M. (2021). . Trends & Insights.
Zhong, W., & Cheng, M. (2021). . Chinese Education & Society, 54 (3-4), 95-106.
Yu, Y., Cheng, M., & Xu, Y. (2021). . Higher Education Ï㽶ÊÓƵ & Development, 41 (6), 2137-2153.
Cheng, M., & Liu, D. (2021). . Chinese Education & Society, 54 (3-4), 91-94.
Valyrakis, M., Latessa, G., Koursari, E., & Cheng, M. (2020). . Fluids, 5 (1).
Pringle Barnes, G., & Cheng, M. (2019). . Journal of Further and Higher Education, 43 (8), 1120-1132.
Shah, M., & Cheng, M. (2019). . Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 34 (2), 187-202.
Cheng, M., Friesen, A., & Adekola, O. (2019). . Cambridge Journal of Education, 49 (2), 133-145.
Cheng, M., Adekola, O.A., Shah, M., & Valyrakis, M. (2018). . Studies in Higher Education, 43 (4), 754-768.
Cheng, M., Kitagawa, F., & Osborne, M. (2017). . International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development, 8 (3), 292-308.
Cheng, M., Kitagawa, F., & Osborne, M. (2017). The evolution of internationalisation strategy: a case study of the University of Nottingham. International Journal of Knowledge-Based Development, 8 (3), 292.
Cheng, M. (2017). Reflections on Improving the System of Supervision and Inspection of Teaching and Learning at Higher Education Institutions. Teacher Education Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.
Cheng, M. (2017). . Quality in Higher Education, 23 (2), 153-167.
Shah, M., Cheng, M., & Fitzgerald, R. (2017). . Higher Education, 74 (1), 115-129.
Cheng, M., Taylor, J., Williams, J., & Tong, K. (2016). Student satisfaction and perceptions of quality: testing the linkages for PhD students. Higher Education Ï㽶ÊÓƵ & Development, 35 (6), 1153-1166.
Gunn, V., & Cheng, M. (2015). . Higher Education Review, 47 (2), 74-93.
Cheng, M. (2014). Quality as transformation: educational metamorphosis. Quality in Higher Education, 20 (3), 272-289.
Cheng, M. (2012). Accountability and professionalism: a contradiction in terms? Higher Education Ï㽶ÊÓƵ & Development, 31 (6), 785-795.
Cheng, M. (2011). ‘Transforming the learner’ versus ‘passing the exam’: Understanding the gap between academic and student definitions of quality. Quality in Higher Education, 17 (1), 3-17.
Cheng, M. (2011). The perceived impact of quality audit on the work of academics. Higher Education Ï㽶ÊÓƵ & Development, 30 (2), 179-191.
Cheng, M. (2010). Audit cultures and quality assurance mechanisms in England: a study of their perceived impact on the work of academics. Teaching in Higher Education, 15 (3), 259-271.
Wisker, G., Morris, C., Warnes, M., Lilly, J., Robinson, G., Trafford, V., & Cheng, M. (2009). . Assessment, Learning & Teaching Journal, 19-22.
Cheng, M. (2009). Academics’ Professionalism and Quality Mechanisms: Challenges and Tensions. Quality in Higher Education, 15 (3), 193-205.
Macfarlane, B., & Cheng, M. (2008). Communism, Universalism and Disinterestedness: Re-examining Contemporary Support among Academics for Merton’s Scientific Norms. Journal of Academic Ethics, 6 (1), 67-78.
Book chapters
Cheng, M., Adekola, O.A., Barnes, G.P., & Tian, L. (2019). . In Pritchard, R.M.O., O’Hara, M., Milsom, C., Williams, J., & Matei, L. (Eds.) The Three Cs of Higher Education Competition, Collaboration and Complementarity. (pp. 169-184). Central European University Press:
Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (Eu, , LSE, , & Panteia, (2015). . In Study on Innovation in Higher Education: Annexes. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg:
Cheng, M. (2014). Professionalizing Teaching Identity and Teaching ‘Excellence’ Schemes. (pp. 162-169). Bloomsbury Publishing Plc:
Books
Cheng, M. (2016). Quality in Higher Education. SensePublishers.
Cheng, M. (2009). . VDM Verlag.
Reports
Cheng, M., Pringle Barnes, G., Edwards, C., Valyrakis, M., Corduneanu, R., & Koukou, M. (2023). . Glasgow: QAA Scotland.
Cheng, M., Pringle Barnes, G., Edwards, C., Valyrakis, M., & Corduneanu, R. (2023). . Glasgow: QAA Scotland.
Cheng, M., Pringle Barnes, G., Edwards, C., Valyrakis, M., & Corduneanu, R. (2023). . Glasgow: QAA Scotland.
Cheng, M., Pringle Barnes, G., Edwards, C., Valyrakis, M., & Corduneanu, R. (2023). . Glasgow: QAA Scotland.
Cheng, M., Pringle Barnes, G., Edwards, C., Valyrakis, M., & Corduneanu, R. (2023). . Glasgow: QAA Scotland.
Wisker, G., Morris, C., Cheng, M., Masika, R., Warnes, M., Trafford, V., ... Lilly, J. (2010). . National Teaching Fellowship Scheme, Higher Education Funding Academy.
Theses / Dissertations
Griffiths, T.-.L. (2024). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Cheng, M.
Griffiths, T.-.L. (2024). . (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Cheng, M.
Internet Publications
Cheng, M., & Adekola, O. (2022). .
Cheng, M. (2021).
Cheng, M. (2017). .
Cheng, M. (2016). .
Other activities
•. Active peer reviewer for eleven international journals
•. Editorial board member for international journal Quality in Higher Education
• Associate Editor for Higher Education Evaluation and Development
• Member of British Educational Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Association (BERA) Engagement Committee