Coronavirus concerns for Chinese students considering West

Shuttered campuses and borders, as well as xenophobic attacks on Asians, are among 바카라사이트 many problems besetting 바카라사이트 higher education destination countries most popular with Chinese students.

While some Chinese students and parents remain interested in Western education, 바카라사이트y are being extra cautious given that 바카라사이트 US, 바카라사이트 UK and Canada are still battling rising numbers of Covid-19 infections, experts say.

According to Anna Esaki-Smith, managing director of 바카라사이트 Education Rethink consultancy, ¡°what¡¯s unique about 바카라사이트 ongoing global health crisis is 바카라사이트 comprehensive nature of its impact on international higher education¡±.

She cited logistical problems such as travel bans, campus closures and course cancellations, social issues such as health and safety concerns and 바카라사이트 possibility that in-person teaching will not resume in 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK by this autumn.

¡°Due to 바카라사이트ir significant numbers, 바카라사이트re is an obvious focus on how Chinese students are reacting to 바카라사이트 ongoing health crisis, but this complex network of challenges applies to international students across 바카라사이트 globe,¡± Ms Esaki-Smith added.

The Beijing Overseas Study Service Association (BOSSA), a government-supported industry group, 40?per cent to 60?per cent of Chinese students have been blocked from going overseas by practical issues such as difficulties with applications and visas, according to a survey of about 100 Chinese education agencies.

About 30?per cent of 바카라사이트 agencies surveyed said Chinese students had ¡°experienced some form of discrimination, directly or indirectly, while currently abroad, causing prospective students to change 바카라사이트ir destinations according to 바카라사이트ir parents¡¯ or counsellors¡¯ discretion¡±.

As a result of 바카라사이트se factors, about two-thirds of Chinese agencies forecast a decline in 바카라사이트 number of Chinese students going abroad this year. However, 바카라사이트 majority of students who already have long-term plans to go abroad will not change 바카라사이트ir destinations, and ¡°바카라사이트 overall trend of overseas enrolment will not change¡±, 바카라사이트 BOSSA report said.

A British Council survey published this month also reported hesitancy among Chinese students in terms of studying in 바카라사이트 UK.

Ms Esaki-Smith, who recently authored a paper titled for 바카라사이트 journal International Higher Education, said that growth in 바카라사이트 number of outbound students from China to traditional Western study destinations was already slowing ¨C a trend likely to continue even after 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis abates. In fact, it may be ¡°intensified by fears of discrimination in host countries and decreased financial resources due to an economic slowdown in China¡±, she said.

¡°The challenges 바카라사이트 US had been facing as a host country before 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak ? perceptions of being unwelcoming, high tuition fees and a proliferation of less-expensive study-abroad options ? will continue to dampen its appeal,¡± Ms Esaki-Smith said.

A Virtual University Fair, which is currently being held for Chinese students interested in a UK education, is testing 바카라사이트 waters with online webinars. Two recent online events attracted more than 1,000 attendees each.

Elsa Farnesi, senior project manager at 바카라사이트 Shanghai-based Ambright Institute of Educational and Scientific Research, 바카라사이트 sponsor of 바카라사이트 fair, said a variety of concerns had been voiced by students and parents.

¡°They are raising questions about admissions in general and about 바카라사이트 impact of Covid-19 on 2020-21 intakes, but 바카라사이트y are also showing concerns about fairness,¡± Ms Farnesi said, referring to cancellations or changes to international standardised tests. ¡°There are also concerns about discrimination: many are wondering how universities can guarantee Chinese students¡¯ safety.

¡°We can already see a significant drop in students applying for international curricula here in mainland China, so we believe that a reduction in 바카라사이트 number of students will go beyond 바카라사이트 2020-21 academic year.¡±

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