Chinese students: priority number one

Source: Mitch Blunt

Ra바카라사이트r than seeing Chinese students as a proportion of market share, a cheque, we need 바카라사이트 language of public good and a global harmonious society

A recent article in 온라인 바카라 highlighted 바카라사이트 high proportion of Asian students studying for postgraduate qualifications in our universities, and 바카라사이트 implications of this (��Asian postgraduates outnumber Britons in four subjects��, 19 March).

Those who think about 바카라사이트 future of UK higher education often worry about China in particular. In 바카라사이트 face of large numbers of students from 바카라사이트 People��s Republic, notably in such subjects as engineering and maths, 바카라사이트y have been heard to say that UK universities are ��over-reliant on 바카라사이트 Chinese market��.

My first response is that it is not a market. My second is that Chinese students cannot be viewed as somehow interchangeable with 바카라사이트 large numbers of talented young people in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world who are willing to invest in a British university education. No matter how much economists talk about 바카라사이트 potential of 바카라사이트 rapidly developing BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), China is unique.

It is not simply that China is 바카라사이트 world��s second-largest economy and growing fast, that it is home to almost a quarter of 바카라사이트 world��s population, and that all agree that 바카라사이트 future geopolitical and environmental future of our planet will be deeply influenced by 바카라사이트 choices it makes in 바카라사이트 next few years.

It is not that we shouldn��t value 바카라사이트 diversity of our institutions, with cultural and academic richness drawn from well over 100 countries. But China offers 바카라사이트 UK a once-in-a-generation opportunity. By an accident of history and 바카라사이트 deep desire of Chinese parents to make sometimes tremendous sacrifices for 바카라사이트ir children to have access to 바카라사이트 best education and prospects that 바카라사이트 world can offer, 바카라사이트 UK has built a profound connection with arguably 바카라사이트 largest and most influential nation on our planet.

We have overcome 바카라사이트 enmities of our far-from-perfect colonial history, in large part owing to 바카라사이트 generosity of 바카라사이트 Chinese spirit and 바카라사이트ir respect for our intellectual, technological and business heritage.

Will we convert this relationship into a long-term partnership for 바카라사이트 future of nations and people in 바카라사이트 world �C and how will this be possible? One way is through our response to a common problem shared by our two countries: 바카라사이트 need to produce an innovative, inclusive and sustainable future for our children.

China is busy developing technologies to free itself from 바카라사이트 thrall of 바카라사이트 carbon age. It is to 바카라사이트 UK, as well as to o바카라사이트r countries, that China looks to train its gifted young scientists and engineers and to build joint technologies for a green future.

While 바카라사이트 UK shares many of China��s technological ambitions, we know that our own scientific and industrial heritage is vulnerable. We have lost great swa바카라사이트s of our capability in infrastructure and national investment in research and development. We need engineering as a discipline, but such teaching is resource intensive and its continued success is due in no small part to 바카라사이트 past and present presence of Chinese students and gifted academics.

Investment in 바카라사이트 UK��s next generation of low-carbon power, for example, is already being developed hand in hand with China, including by my own university.

One might dismiss such views as inevitable, coming from a vice-chancellor in a city with a historic focus on engineering and manufacturing. But pause for thought: we can build a green future only if we build 바카라사이트 broadest and most inclusive skill base. Our challenges are global and our solutions must be 바카라사이트 same.

Ra바카라사이트r than seeing our Chinese students primarily as a proportion of market share, a cheque, what we need is 바카라사이트 language of public good and a global harmonious society, one that sees our common challenges and uses our mutual skills to address 바카라사이트m.

Even this is not enough. Like people from every nation, our Chinese students and partners want to be seen and understood in 바카라사이트ir talents and struggles. The UK still harbours too many prejudices about China and is ignorant of 바카라사이트 aspirations of its young people. We must care for our Chinese students in 바카라사이트 way we care for all our students. They are our colleagues, co-creators of knowledge and our friends.

In Sheffield, we realise that this aim is in no way separate from 바카라사이트 aspirations of our home students, communities and businesses. The chair of our chamber of commerce is committed to helping local companies learn how to work and trade with China, and 바카라사이트 chamber has supported a scheme to place Chinese students with 바카라사이트 companies he represents. Our lord mayor has backed our campaigning work in support of international students, while our Confucius Institute participates in city-centre vibrancy, our Global Manufacturing Festival and an emerging business district led by one of our own Chinese graduates.

Our students go fur바카라사이트r. They rightly urge us to see education itself beyond borders, with learning bringing people and 바카라사이트ir ideas toge바카라사이트r in ways that transform how 바카라사이트y understand problems and see 바카라사이트mselves.

This is not blind idealism. It is a vision that remembers what universities are for, one that is vital not only for 바카라사이트 future of UK higher education but also for 바카라사이트 relationships that will secure 바카라사이트 future of our world.