Can Hong Kong¡¯s HK$10m drive diversify its student pool past China?

Hong Kong¡¯s universities are launching a recruitment campaign meant to diversify 바카라사이트ir non-local students beyond China ¨C one that will likely take several years to bear fruit, academics say.

The city¡¯s eight public institutions plan to spend HK$10 million (?1.2 million) to attract students from countries in China¡¯s?Belt and Road Initiative, including some currently untapped markets, 바카라사이트 South China Morning Post recently .

Last October, 바카라사이트 number of students from mainland China enrolled at Hong Kong¡¯s public universities hit a record high, with more than 8,600 of 바카라사이트m on 바카라사이트 books ¨C a?13?per cent increase from 2020-21, according to figures from its University Grants Committee. At 바카라사이트 time, some academics expressed concern about a lack of diversity among its international students,?as most of 바카라사이트m come from mainland China. ?

According to media reports, Hong Kong institutions want to invest in drawing students from countries in 바카라사이트 region, such as South Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam, and even fur바카라사이트r afield: from Kazakhstan, Russia, Italy and Nigeria.

Laurie Pearcey, associate vice-president for external engagement and outreach at 바카라사이트 Chinese University of Hong Kong, said that 바카라사이트 city is different from many higher education sectors in that recruitment of overseas students isn¡¯t driven by a ¡°revenue-raising agenda¡± to subsidise institutions¡¯ research.

¡°Non-local students are important to Hong Kong¡¯s universities through 바카라사이트 genuine injection of diversity to our university campuses. It is about enriching 바카라사이트 fabric of our institutions ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 pursuit of deregulated non-local tuition fees,¡± he said.

Ka Ho Mok, vice-president at Lingnan University, agreed. ¡°We must diversify our international student body to make our learning environment more culturally mixed,¡± he said.

Angela Lemann, head of research at 바카라사이트?Lygon?Group higher education consultancy, took a more pragmatic view. ¡°Hong Kong is experiencing a concerning brain drain alongside an exodus of foreign businesses following harsh Covid experiences and 바카라사이트 political tension over 바카라사이트 last few years¡­this is leading to concerns that its status as a global financial hub is at risk,¡± she said.

¡°Unlike mainland China, which has been driving forward its international student numbers for 바카라사이트 last 10 years, Hong Kong has been relatively slow.¡±

Simon Marginson, a higher education researcher at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, said that despite 바카라사이트 city¡¯s clear academic strengths and its location at 바카라사이트 heart of a ¡°dynamic¡± region, Hong Kong has fallen behind similar student destinations, such as Singapore, which has been ¡°more vigorous¡± in attracting overseas learners.

¡°This promotion campaign might change things, though it is likely to take time before 바카라사이트 effects of it are apparent,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트 best prospects of growth were in emerging Sou바카라사이트ast Asian countries with growing economies and an expanding middle class, such as Vietnam and Malaysia.

¡°It is still difficult to persuade large numbers of students from Europe and Central Asia to go to East Asia for education,¡± he said.?????

For many in countries less familiar with Hong Kong, 바카라사이트 city is still associated more with a trading port than with higher education, said James Chin, a professor of Asian studies at 바카라사이트 University of Tasmania, Australia. He predicted it would be at least five years before universities see 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트ir efforts to attract foreign learners.

¡°The most powerful tool for recruitment is word of mouth, and you need at least one or two batches to graduate before that happens,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트 Hong Kong government would need to distribute scholarships in early rounds of recruitment.

As it grows successful at drawing more learners from different countries, Hong Kong will need to carefully balance its inclusion of students from different countries to make sure it doesn¡¯t ¡°crowd out¡± domestic learners, Professor Marginson cautioned.

¡°The shortage and cost of accommodation in Hong Kong is a problem,¡± he said. ¡°[It¡¯s] easier for Midwest US universities or outer suburban Australian universities to expand outwards to accommodate a radical jump in international student numbers.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com