Study in China Plan
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How China plans to become a global force in higher education Our expert looks at China’s drive to attract foreign students and create a web of international partnerships
Rahul Choudaha China is home to roughly 20% of the world’s population. It contributes about 14% of global economic output. The size and interconnectedness of its economic activities mean that the knock-on effects are felt far and wide. But China is also a primary engine of growth for international higher education, leading the way in student recruitment, English and Chinese language programmes, transnational education and short-term study abroad. The country, therefore, is critical to the economics of global higher education – and understanding the developments there will enable universes across the world to create informed institutional strategies and adapt to a rapidly shifting landscape. So here are some of the key trends related to the internationalisation of Chinese higher education: 1. China is making itself more attractive to international students In 2014, there were almost 380,000 international students from more than 200 countries studying at universities in China. Nearly 35% of those students were based in either Beijing or Shanghai, and the majority – 56% – were on short-term, non-degree programmes, learning Chinese language and culture. The Chinese ministry of education launched the Study in China plan in 2010, which aims to attract 500,000 students by 2020. The challenge is to make China an attractive destination for degree-seeking international students. Several policy initiatives are in the works, including bilateral partnerships (such as the recent UK-China initiative), additional scholarships for one-year language preparation courses, more programmes in English, and easier access to the job market for international students. 2. Economic issues are unlikely to hit higher education In the wake of recent worries about the Chinese economy, many institutions have aired concerns about the impact on international student enrollment. Could this be the beginning of the end of the China growth story? As I have written before, I don’t think so. In 2014, 1.7 million Chinese students were enrolled in institutions around the world. In that year alone, 459,800 Chinese left China to study abroad; an increase of 11% from the year before. Of those students, the vast majority - about 92% - were self-funded. Given the size and scale of the wealthy classes in China, the demand for high-school and undergraduate education abroad is likely to remain strong. For many Chinese families, an international education is seen as an investment in a recession-proof, premium product (for which many have saved and prepared for a long time). But self-funded graduate education at both the master’s and doctoral levels could potentially face challenges for the next couple of years. 3. Joint international projects are due to increase In 2014, nearly 600 Chinese universities were working in partnership with foreign institutions to offer more than 1,100 joint programmes for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, according to the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE). These cross-border joint ventures are especially important for countries like the UK. More Chinese entrants to English higher education institutions started their first degree through a transnational education pathway (55%) in 2013-14 than through direct student recruitment (36%), according to a recent report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. There is an increasing focus on addressing the quality of cross-border partnerships, with the goal of enhancing the attractiveness and influence of the Study in China plan. New initiatives, such as partnerships along the Silk Road, are set to create further opportunities for engagement with China. And the dependency of many higher education institutions on Chinese students to meet their international student recruitment goals means that the country will continue to be a dominant part of international strategies in the short to medium term. Interest among international students looks likely to grow too, as the government pushes on with a proactive policy agenda and the country’s institutions improve support services and outreach to young people across the globe.
The Institute of International Education Releases IIEPassport Study Abroad in China
New Magazine Serves as Resource for U.S. Students Interested in Studying Abroad in China NEW YORK, January 19, 2011—The Institute of International Education has expanded its IIEPassport publication series with IIEPassport Study in China, a special magazine issue that includes a directory of 350 programs for U.S. graduate and undergraduate students offered by the U.S. and Chinese governments, third party providers, private foundations and U.S. higher education institutions. The magazine, designed especially for students, features information on scholarships and funding resources to study abroad in China, advice from students who have studied in China and articles about the efforts of the governments of both countries to promote U.S.-China exchange. IIEPassport Study Abroad in China helps make study abroad opportunities in China more accessible for U.S. students from all backgrounds and fields of study. Students can find programs based on their area of interest, desired length of stay, language capabilities, preferred destination, whether urban or rural, and more. The magazine has been produced in partnership with Lonely Planet and Naylor Publications. China is the fifth most popular study abroad destination for students from the U.S., according to the Open Doors Report published annually by IIE with support from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. More than 13,600 U.S. students received academic credit for studying abroad in China in academic year 2008/09, the latest year for which data is available. Open Doors 2010 reports the number of U.S. students studying abroad in China increased by 4% in 2008/09, and has more than doubled since 2004/05. IIEPassport Study Abroad in China offers U.S. students interested in studying in China a comprehensive view of the opportunities available to them, and is one of several IIE initiatives focused on strengthening educational ties between our two countries. In addition to the program listings, the magazine includes articles from educational exchange leaders, such as Yang Xinyu, Deputy Secretary General for the China Scholarship Council, who provides an overview of China’s Ministry of Education’s Study in China Plan and offers seven reasons to study in China. The magazine also features an article by Carola McGiffert, Senior Adviser to Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and the Pacific, on President Obama’s “100,000 Strong” initiative that seeks to increase the number of U.S. students studying in China to 100,000 over the next few years. As part of “100,000 Strong,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is urging U.S. colleges and universities to double the number of their students who study in China by 2014. Helping campuses to meet that challenge, IIE recently announced the re-launch of the Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA), with a generous grant of $2 million from the Freeman Foundation. Over the past decade, more than 4,000 American undergraduates with financial need received support to study in East and Southeast Asia. More than one-third of Freeman-ASIA grantees studied in China, and returned to campus to conduct outreach projects, encouraging thousands of their peers to study abroad in China. The renewed Freeman Foundation support will help support this goal by providing awards for hundreds more American undergraduates to study in East/Southeast Asia over the next two academic years. While IIEPassport Study Abroad in China highlights exchange opportunities that already exist, IIE’s Center for International Partnerships in Higher Education has launched year two of the International Academic Partnerships Program (IAPP) to help increase the number of students and scholar exchanges between the U.S. and China. This initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. A cohort of ten diverse U.S. higher education institutions has been selected to participate in IAPP China in 2011. IIEPassport IIE's IIEPassport study abroad books and the www.IIEPassport.org online database help thousands of students identify and select study abroad programs each year. The IIEPassport directories feature over 9,500 programs offered by U.S. and foreign universities and providers, and are updated annually, making them the most comprehensive resource to planning study abroad for students, parents and advisers. IIEPassport Study Abroad Funding is also available online: www.studyabroadfunding.org. Institute of International Education The Institute of International Education is a world leader in the international exchange of people and ideas. An independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1919, IIE has a network of 18 offices worldwide and over 1,000 member institutions. IIE designs and implements programs of study and training for students, educators, young professionals and trainees from all sectors with funding from government agencies, foundations, and corporations. IIE also conducts policy research and program evaluations, and provides advising and counseling on international education and opportunities for study, teaching and research abroad.
Hot programs that foreign students prefer to study in China
During the 60 years from 1950 when China received the first batch of foreign students to 2010, the total amounts of foreign students coming to study in China reached 1.69 millions. In this 60 years, with China’s international status daily increasing and rapid social development, the number of foreign students coming to study in China have been growing gradually, till 2011, it reached 290,000 for the first time, there were a total number of 292.611 international students from 194 countries and areas studying in 600 Chinese universities, scientific research institutions and other educational institutions of whole Chinese 31 provinces and municipalities (not including Taiwan Province, Hong Kong and Macao). The total number of foreign students, countries and areas of sources of international student, institutions that accept foreign students and Chinese scholarship students all this four reached the top since foundation of PRC. The total number of foreign students increased by 27,521, it is 13.38 percentages compared with that of 2010, among which Chinese government scholarships increased by 3,297 to reach 25,687, it is 13.38 percentages of growth compared with that of last year; self-support students increased by 24,224 to reach 266,927, it is 9.98 percentages of growth compared with that of the last year. Number of countries and districts of international students kept in the same level compared with that of the last year, number of units that accept international students increased by 40. When counted by states, Asia students was among the top one with a number of 187,871, made up 64.21% among total number of the international students; European students made up the 16.15% with a number of 47,271; Columbian’s made up 11.05％ with a number of 32,333; African’s made up 7.09％ with a number of 4,392 and the rest 4,392 of Oceania’s, made up 1.50%. seen from the rises, number of students from Africa and America had rapid growth, an growth rate of respectively 26.46% and 18.75% When counted by nationality, top 10 nations in number of students were Korea, total number of 62,442 students, US, total number of 23,292, Japan, total number of 17,961, Thailand, total number of 14,145, Vietnam, total number of 13,549, Russia, total number of 13,340, Indonesia, total number of 10,957, India, total number of 97, 370, Pakistan, total number of 10,957 and KZ, total number of 8,287.In addition, countries from which the number of students reached over 5000 were French(7,592 ones), Mongolia(7,122 ones) and Germany(5,451 ones). When counted by type of students, the number of degree students were 118,837,making up 40.61％ of the total number of international students coming to study in China, increased 10.62% which is faster than that of the growing of the total number of international students. Then number of junior college students and undergraduate students was 88,461, making up 74.44％ of the number of degree students; Graduates were 23,453, making up 19.74％; Postgraduates were 6,923, making up 5.83％. The number of non-degree students was 173,774, making up 59.39％ of the total number of international students. In future, Ministry of Education will continue carrying out the spirit of National medium and long-term education reform and development plan outline, practically put Study in China Plan into effect, move forward to optimize atmosphere of study in China, focus on standard management, improve quality of international students education, hope that in 2020, the number of international students in China can reach 500,000 and make China become largest destination for international student exchange over the Asia. According to international students statistics by Chinese education ministry and recent 5 years application date of China university application center, we listed popular majored of different fields that international students apply for.
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1 Study in China Plan strenghtens the educational cooperation home and abroad.
2 Study in China Plan sets up a comprehensive system for overseas students.
3 Study in China Plan ensures sound development of China's cause of education.