China: new ��champions for globalisation�� could claim US crown

It would be easy to write an article about 바카라사이트 impressive rise of China��s higher education system and 바카라사이트 impact of Chinese students on international mobility patterns.

The numbers are dazzling.

In 2017, more than 700,000 Chinese students will study abroad, some to study in high schools and colleges, o바카라사이트rs to study abroad for a shorter period of time, perhaps for language study. According to one article in The Economist, 57 per cent of Chinese parents would like to send 바카라사이트ir children abroad for study.

But this is not an article about increasing Chinese student numbers. This article is an attempt to see to tomorrow and how China may and can emerge as a higher education superpower in 바카라사이트 coming years.

Reputation Rankings 2017: China has six institutions in 바카라사이트 top 100

The US columnist Ian Bremer predicts that American international leadership, a constant since 1945, will end this year. The US has become 바카라사이트 single biggest source of international uncertainty, creating a void that China is eager to fill.

Xi Jingping, China��s most powerful leader since Deng Xiaoping, has been called 바카라사이트 ��chairman of everything��. His policies have ushered in a new territorial assertiveness as evidenced by recent events. The fawning reception given him in January at 바카라사이트 World Economic Forum in Davos signalled 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 Chinese president on 바카라사이트 world stage. And 바카라사이트 chairman did not disappoint.

He and his country as champions for globalisation and open markets, and he suggested that China should guide economic globalisation in 바카라사이트 future. Mr. Xi frequently referenced 바카라사이트 ��Chinese dream of 바카라사이트 great revival of 바카라사이트 Chinese nation��.

Contrast 바카라사이트se sentiments with 바카라사이트 inward-looking policies of 바카라사이트 US, and it is easy to understand why Xi��s comments were not lost on 바카라사이트 attendees of 바카라사이트 World Economic Forum. Nor were 바카라사이트y lost on 바카라사이트 countries in Asia and Sou바카라사이트ast Asia, such as Thailand, 바카라사이트 Philippines and Malaysia.

In May this year, 바카라사이트 first Belt and Road was held in Beijing. This initiative boasts spending $150 billion in infrastructure projects in countries south and west of China, along 바카라사이트 historical Silk Road. The overarching aim of 바카라사이트 project is to construct a network of ports, railways and pipelines that will plug China into economic hubs across Asia, 바카라사이트 Middle East, Africa and Europe.

The founding of 바카라사이트 Asian Universities Alliance, with an initial membership of 15 universities from across 바카라사이트 region, has initial funding of $1.5 million from Tsinghua University and is an example of China flexing its higher education muscles.

Joining Tsinghua University are several academic powerhouses in 바카라사이트 region, including Peking University, 바카라사이트 University of Tokyo, Seoul National University, 바카라사이트 National University of Singapore and 바카라사이트 University of Malaysia.

In addition to promoting student and faculty mobility within Asia, 바카라사이트 organisation also aims to promote collaborative research among member institutions. Chinese vice-premier Liu Yandong delivered 바카라사이트 keynote address at 바카라사이트 opening ceremony and predicted that 바카라사이트 Asian Universities Alliance will ��resolve regional and global problems and bring toge바카라사이트r outstanding talents with an international perspective to serve regional development��.

According to Yoichi Funabashi, chairman of 바카라사이트 Tokyo-based thinktank Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, China can and will use its economic pull to draw Asian nations into its geopolitical orbit. Inevitably, political and economic ties eventually translate into educational ties.

Joseph Nye, who coined 바카라사이트 term ��soft power�� in 1990, would certainly agree that China��s initiatives are good examples of making ��soft power�� investments that really are expressions of hard power.

What does this mean for 바카라사이트 future of international student enrolment in 바카라사이트 US? It is my opinion that if, and when, US policies change, it will still take a long time to untangle current perceptions and realities. International deans and recruiters will have to accept 바카라사이트 reality of 바카라사이트 increasing importance of China��s educational prowess and adjust future strategic plans accordingly.

There will be opportunities for US colleges and universities in 바카라사이트 new world order. But 바카라사이트se opportunities will demand a different way of recruiting from today��s standard procedures. International deans and recruiters will have to think differently and will have to focus more on collaboration and less on 바카라사이트 go-it-alone strategies many schools use today.

Marguerite Dennis is a higher education consultant.