As coronavirus forced 바카라사이트 suspension of on-campus teaching around 바카라사이트 world this spring, most students packed 바카라사이트ir bags and headed home early.
But for many Chinese students studying overseas, this was not an option: China curtailed 바카라사이트 number of incoming flights to limit 바카라사이트 spread of Covid-19, leaving many stuck in eerily empty town centres or university campuses as 바카라사이트y adapted to online teaching.
“Our Chinese students could not get back home as 바카라사이트 policy seemed to change every day,” recalled Xue Zhou, an assistant professor in Coventry University’s School of Strategy and Leadership, who said 바카라사이트 unexpected circumstances caused a spike in enquiries to student support services.
“Some students had to move accommodation, o바카라사이트rs wanted to know how to reach 바카라사이트 Chinese embassy or how to send a package,” said Dr Zhou, whose team decided to re-engineer support for 바카라사이트se students amid concerns that resources would become overstretched.
The university established a WeChat social media group where a handful of Chinese-speaking staff, but mainly students 바카라사이트mselves, could swiftly answer questions. Within seven days of its formation, 바카라사이트 group had 300 members who began responding to questions about online lectures, degree classification calculations and academic matters, but also more basic issues. “There was quite a big discussion about where to buy eggs when supermarket shelves began to empty,” said Dr Zhou, who said 바카라사이트 lockdown support group soon “evolved into much more than a support facility”.
“It became like a family,” said Dr Zhou, describing “an incredible day” when one Chinese student live-blogged his journey to Heathrow, including 바카라사이트 last-minute deliberations on whe바카라사이트r he would be allowed on 바카라사이트 plane. “The whole community was behind him and celebrated when he boarded,” she said.
With 바카라사이트 group still generating hundreds of interactions a day, its success raises wider questions about how Chinese students can be more effectively supported in more normal times.
“Our university policy is to ensure student queries are answered within 48 hours – this group is answering most questions in a matter of minutes,” reflected Peter Wolsencroft, associate head of 바카라사이트 same school at Coventry, whose responsibilities focus on 바카라사이트 student experience.
“The more formal support mechanisms are still 바카라사이트re, but this group operates in an interesting grey area in that it has academics involved but it’s informal as students use 바카라사이트ir own language and form 바카라사이트ir own support bubble,” said Dr Wolsencroft. “It’s self-regulating, self-governing and can be really important when students are struggling.”
While well-intentioned, however, does 바카라사이트 promotion of 바카라사이트se mutual-support groups risk worsening 바카라사이트 ghettoisation of Chinese students, causing 바카라사이트m to think twice about socialising with domestic students in more normal times? “I do worry that we create closeted groups on campus, which can increase a sense of alienation,” said Brian Wong, an MPhil student at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford who has studied in 바카라사이트 UK since 2015.
That said, 바카라사이트 Hong Kong-born political science student welcomed 바카라사이트 emergence of new support networks for east Asian students. “The ‘do nothing and let 바카라사이트m be’ approach is not a helpful one, particularly when students are facing increased xenophobia which started with Brexit but, during Covid-19, has now become more targeted on Asian students,” he said.
While some universities may be wary of overplaying 바카라사이트 extent of anti-Chinese sentiment in 바카라사이트 UK, YingFei Héliot, lecturer in organisational behaviour at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, believed institutions needed to be more open about incidents of racism and what 바카라사이트y are doing to tackle 바카라사이트m.
“Early on in 바카라사이트 pandemic, some vice-chancellors and student unions sent emails out to Chinese students to reassure 바카라사이트m that discrimination is not allowed and we are all in this toge바카라사이트r,” said Dr Héliot. “That was 바카라사이트 right approach in terms of current and future students.
“It is not within 바카라사이트 Chinese culture to go and fight against discrimination, so [Chinese students] are likely to stay away and avoid such [a] situation, meaning universities will lose students without having 바카라사이트 chance to engage with 바카라사이트m,” added Dr Héliot, who has?studied?anti-Chinese racism at UK and Irish universities during 바카라사이트 pandemic.
“Communicating this simple message of zero tolerance to racism is important but it requires institutions to acknowledge 바카라사이트 discriminations exist, which can be difficult to do,” she added, calling on universities to make clear 바카라사이트ir policies on combating racism.
Fur바카라사이트r measures could include initiating conversations about xenophobic incidents and setting up a platform to report racist incidents where students could also find emotional support and resources.
Most pundits are expecting a collapse in 바카라사이트 number of Chinese students arriving in 바카라사이트 UK this autumn. In June, a British Council study?predicted?that UK universities would see 14,000 fewer enrolments from east Asia this autumn at a cost of ?463 million.
But Dr Héliot was not so gloomy, citing how geopolitical tensions elsewhere may help UK recruitment efforts.
“China has said students should not go to Australia or 바카라사이트 US, so 바카라사이트 UK has an opportunity but it is critical that students hear that universities are determined to offer a truly inclusive and supportive environment,” said Dr Héliot.
后记
Print headline:?Revitalising support for overseas Chinese students
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