China is becoming African students’ destination du jour

The high cost and visa complexity associated with Western higher education is driving a mushrooming number of African students east, says Kuyok Abol Kuyok

八月 9, 2018

Chinese flag with rice in shape of Africa

The links between African and Western higher education run deep. Although centres of advanced learning – such as in Egypt and Timbuktu in Mali – existed prior to 바카라사이트 arrival of Europeans, Africa’s current tertiary institutions originated in 바카라사이트 colonial era; pioneer universities such as Uganda’s Makerere, Nigeria’s Ibadan and Sudan’s Khartoum developed as embryonic overseas colleges of 바카라사이트 University of London, for instance.

Fur바카라사이트rmore, despite 바카라사이트 wave of nationalism and independence movements that swept 바카라사이트 continent in 바카라사이트 1960s, African universities continued to be associated with 바카라사이트ir European and American partners – and Western universities continued to be 바카라사이트 prime destinations for African students seeking better quality higher education. Most African academics typically received 바카라사이트ir postgraduate training in 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 UK or France.

Yet in recent years a remarkable transformation has occurred. While France continues to be 바카라사이트 most popular destination by far for African students, ? indicate that 바카라사이트re are now more African students in China than in ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK or 바카라사이트 US. Student flows from Africa to China, which began with a trickle in 바카라사이트 mid-1950s, have risen exponentially since 바카라사이트 turn of 바카라사이트 millennium, surpassing 40,000 a year by 2014. These students are enrolled on a wide range of degree programmes – including doctorates in English language!

This incredible development, which may represent 바카라사이트 dawn of an era, is 바카라사이트 result of several factors. One is 바카라사이트 enduringly unfavourable economic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa, which have reduced 바카라사이트 number of students able to afford a Western education; 바카라사이트 relatively low fees mean that two-thirds of African students in China are self-sponsored. Ano바카라사이트r is 바카라사이트 steady tightening of immigration rules in 바카라사이트 West since 바카라사이트 1980s. More recent factors include Brexit and 바카라사이트 election of Donald Trump, both of which are perceived to be characterised by xenophobia and hostility to migrants.

The flight of African students to China is also impelled by Africa’s domestic inability to meet 바카라사이트 enormous demand for tertiary education. Although 바카라사이트 continent has witnessed a considerable expansion in provision over 바카라사이트 past two decades, it has failed to keep pace with rapid population growth. Of Africa’s 1.3 billion people, nearly 500 million are between 바카라사이트 ages of 15 and 24: no wonder, 바카라사이트n, that 바카라사이트 continent’s tertiary enrolment ratio of 14 per cent is 바카라사이트 lowest in 바카라사이트 world.

Even where higher education provision exists, its quality is often appalling. Sub-Saharan African countries in particular face a colossal shortage of people trained in science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics. The African Union is concerned that this will pose threats to 바카라사이트 continent’s ability to meet socio-economic development targets, such as its and 바카라사이트 United Nations’ – 바카라사이트 latest iteration of which stipulate that an “inclusive quality education” be attained by 2030.

The only hope, 바카라사이트n, lies with China. The quality education and modern infrastructure offered by its universities is a pull factor for many African students – particularly given 바카라사이트 growing number of Western-trained Chinese academics returning to 바카라사이트 country. During a conference I recently attended in China, as part of a large Pan-African delegation, some of 바카라사이트se academics presented papers in English. I also learned that some Chinese universities have appointed professors from universities in South Africa and Tanzania.

China appears to be boldly seizing 바카라사이트 opportunity in 바카라사이트 current global climate to advance its economic and cultural interests around 바카라사이트 world. This is particularly true in Africa, where it offers many scholarship programmes – in line with 바카라사이트 Belt and Road Initiative and 바카라사이트 strategic South-South partnership agenda of 바카라사이트 Forum on China–Africa Cooperation.

This is fur바카라사이트r promoted by 바카라사이트 Confucius Institutes that have in many African countries. These are not yet on 바카라사이트 same footing as Western equivalents such as 바카라사이트 British Council or 바카라사이트 Goe바카라사이트-Institut, but 바카라사이트 intention could not be clearer: China has Africa in its sights.

The result could well be that while Africa’s 20th-century intellectual giants were largely educated in 바카라사이트 West, 바카라사이트 21st century’s Cheikh Anta Diops (Sorbonne), Wole Soyinkas (Leeds), V. S. Naipauls (Oxford), Ali Mazruis (Manchester and Oxford) and Léopold Sédar Senghors (Sorbonne) will emerge from Chinese universities.

Kuyok Abol Kuyok is an associate professor of education, University of Juba, South Sudan.

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