The Ministry of Education recently released the latest
statistics on foreign students in China.
In 2003, some 77,715 foreign students from 175 countries were
studying in 353 universities and other educational institutes
scattered throughout 31 provinces, autonomous regions and
municipalities. The figures exclude Taiwan Province and the Hong
Kong and Macao special administrative regions.
The Chinese government provided scholarships for 6,153 of the
students, while the remainder were responsible for their own
funding. About 31 percent, or 24,616, were pursuing degrees.
More than 45 percent of the students, 35,353 in all, came from
South Korea. There were 12,765 Japanese students and 3,693 from the
United States.
Foreign students in China continued to concentrate in
municipalities and provinces with more colleges and universities,
such as Beijing (29,332 foreign students), Shanghai (13,858) and
Tianjin (4,952).
China received its first batch of 33 foreign students from
Eastern Europe in 1950. More than half a century later, people who
once studied in China are now dispersed through 170 countries
around the world.
While it admits that statistics are incomplete, the Ministry of
Education reports that more than 30 of the students who returned to
their home countries from China are now holding ministerial-level
posts. Over 10 have returned as ambassadors to China while another
30 are holding other high positions in their countries’ embassies
here. About 120 are professors or associate professors, and
hundreds are project managers or commercial deputies in cultural,
economic and trade entities of their countries engaged in
activities with China.
Former students who return to China to participate in
diplomatic, business, education or other types of exchange are an
important bridge promoting interaction between China and the
world.
More and more universities and colleges are prepared to
accommodate the rapidly growing number of foreign students coming
here. Even in 2003, when China was affected by the SARS epidemic,
the number of new foreign students seeking degrees grew 17
percent.
It is a winning situation from which China, the students and
their home countries benefit.
The number of students providing their own funding, already over
90 percent, continues to rise.
China now has tried-and-true methods for managing its foreign
students. They may choose from a wide range of subjects for study,
including literature, history, philosophy, economics, law,
education, science, agriculture and medicine. Many universities
have begun to explore the use of bilingual education for their
foreign students.
Ministry of Education believes that China has huge potential to
further develop this sector. To that end, in 2004 the ministry will
begin implementing its plan to attract 120,000 foreign students to
China by 2007, while further improving the comprehensive medical
insurance system as well as living and study conditions for
students from abroad.
(China.org.cn March 19, 2004)