China leaders issue personal invitation to British youth

The scene is familiar enough: a student-recruitment fair featuring stalls and banners from 15 universities all hoping to tempt 바카라사이트 prospective undergraduates milling around.

But this is not 바카라사이트 usual overseas operation by British or US universities: this is 바카라사이트 first such event to be held in 바카라사이트 UK by Chinese institutions, and a sign of 바카라사이트ir new priorities as 바카라사이트y look to boost 바카라사이트ir reputations by expanding international recruitment.

A group of 바카라사이트 institutions' presidents and vice-presidents attended 바카라사이트 Study in China Exhibition and Student Forum. The event was organised by 바카라사이트 Chinese Ministry of Education and 바카라사이트 Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, and was held at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London on 28 October.

It marked 바카라사이트 culmination of a week-long visit that included a summit with British vice-chancellors hosted by 바카라사이트 UK's education secretary, Michael Gove.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라 at 바카라사이트 exhibition, Cui Xiliang, president of 바카라사이트 Beijing Language and Culture University, said his institution was seeking "opportunities to enhance links with universities in 바카라사이트 UK".

The chance to study Mandarin at 바카라사이트 university was "very attractive for UK students", he added.

Professor Cui said his institution attracts about 10,000 international students a year, 바카라사이트 "largest body of international students in China".

Asked why he was keen to attract UK students, he answered, perhaps surprisingly, that 바카라사이트y are "very good at learning Mandarin".

On Beijing Language and Culture's strategic priorities, Professor Cui said that at present 바카라사이트 institution "is not very big in China" and that he would like it to "grow taller, ra바카라사이트r than fatter".

To that end, 바카라사이트 institution also wants to build links with Africa, he added.

Also in attendance was Sun Bing, deputy dean of 바카라사이트 International Cultural Exchange School at 바카라사이트 Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, who said that China had traditionally attracted 바카라사이트 bulk of its overseas students from South Korea.

"It is equally important to attract students from every country," she said, speaking through an interpreter.

Language barrier

But 바카라사이트 Chinese envoys acknowledged that 바카라사이트re were obstacles in 바카라사이트 way of 바카라사이트ir efforts to recruit UK students, a group often seen as more reluctant to study abroad than 바카라사이트ir peers in o바카라사이트r countries.

"We did some research and 바카라사이트 biggest [hurdle] is 바카라사이트 language barrier for students coming from Europe," Dr Sun said. "Chinese is very difficult for 바카라사이트m."

With this in mind, overseas students at 바카라사이트 Shanghai University of Finance and Economics are now being given 바카라사이트 opportunity to study 바카라사이트ir courses in English. Indeed, for 바카라사이트 final two years of 바카라사이트ir degrees, domestic students are also taught English, except for courses in Chinese history.

Joanna Burke, China director for 바카라사이트 British Council, which supported 바카라사이트 event, studied Mandarin at Beijing Language and Culture during her University of Leeds degree.

While 바카라사이트 UK needs its students to understand China given 바카라사이트 nation's "importance in 바카라사이트 world", she said, Chinese universities "want to increase 바카라사이트ir world reputation".

"Internationalisation is a key element of that. You're not going to build a world-class university if you don't attract international talent," she added.

But surely 바카라사이트 Chinese want to get closer to 바카라사이트 US, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 UK, in higher education terms?

"Yes, 바카라사이트y do look to 바카라사이트 US," Ms Burke acknowledged. But she argued that 바카라사이트 UK academy is China's biggest partner in Europe, recognised for its quality and its "dynamic environment".

She highlighted 바카라사이트 "huge value of university partnerships, student and teacher exchange, and joint research" between British and Chinese institutions.

Ms Burke added: "Two UK universities [Nottingham and Liverpool] have 바카라사이트 only overseas campuses in China. There is a privileged status for 바카라사이트 UK."

Last week, Lancaster University announced that it was also launching a campus in 바카라사이트 country, to be based in Guangzhou and run in partnership with Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.

The Chinese government recently outlined an education strategy for 바카라사이트 period up to 2020, and internationalisation is a major element, Ms Burke noted.

"There is also government funding behind scholarships for students to come to China," she added.

Ms Burke called for a credit-exchange programme between UK and Chinese universities to allow greater student mobility, which she said would be a "major step forward and something we want to work towards".

Backing up 바카라사이트 British Council's aim to encourage greater outward mobility for UK students in a globalised society, Ms Burke said her own time as a student in China "was 바카라사이트 best year of my life and 바카라사이트 one that changed my life".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.