Decentralisation of public education has been a predominant strategy of neoliberal globalisation for many countries, with policy rhetoric proclaiming greater autonomy and thus localized decision making for education institutions. In China, there is currently a prevailing trend of decentralizing education systems to cope with the challenges of globalization worldwide. But decentralization does not mean less control. This paper focuses on educational governance issues in China. It examines the change of public education policies implemented at different levels, including primary, secondary and higher education and the impacts of these policies on collaborations, including academics’ international collaborations, inter-governmental ministries and departments, schools, principals and teachers. In order to promote economic development and enhance global competitiveness, the Chinese government has recentralised schools from the State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) and introduced corporate governance to universities. This paper reports on how schools have been transferred from SOE to the Ministry of Education and how academic work has become more regulated by the changing policies. This paper argues that the control over Chinese education system is not diminished, but even strengthened.