Abstract: From the theoretical logic of the impact of higher education opening-up on the innovation of colleges and universities,research and development investment,research and development subjects and cross-regional knowledge flow are the core factors affecting the innovation of colleges and universities.Colleges and universities further the opening up through the Chinese-foreign cooperation in school-running,the education of international students in China and international academic exchanges,which can effectively increase the investment in research and development of colleges and universities,improve human capital and promote knowledge exchange and interaction as well as the innovation level of colleges and universities.Based on the data of colleges and universities directly under the Ministry of Education,the empirical study shows that in practice,the opening up of higher education does promote the innovation of colleges and universities in China,and the innovation promotion effect displays heterogeneity among colleges and universities.The opening up of higher education encourages the innovation of colleges and universities mainly by increasing R&D investment,improving human capital and promoting knowledge exchange and interaction.

Key words: education opening-up, university innovation, international students, Chinese-foreign cooperation in school-running, international academic exchange