Hong Kong considers raising cap on non-local students

Hong Kong¡¯s government has begun consulting universities about lifting its cap on international students, potentially bringing thousands more to 바카라사이트 island in coming years, according to senior university officials.

Legislators are looking to relax 바카라사이트 official 20 per cent limit on ¡°non-local¡± undergraduate students ¨C roughly half of whom come from mainland China ¨C that 바카라사이트 island¡¯s eight government-funded universities are allowed to admit, sector leaders with knowledge of 바카라사이트 issue told?온라인 바카라.

A rapidly falling population is compelling universities to think about admitting more overseas learners.?Along with a low birth rate, 바카라사이트 wave of emigration following 바카라사이트 politically contentious National Security Law has driven demographic decline. Some 33,604 school-age students left 바카라사이트 island in 2021-22.

With 바카라사이트 knock-on effect due to be felt by universities in coming years, internal discussions have started on how 바카라사이트 numbers of non-local students could increase in coming years.

¡°A number of people are saying it¡¯s a question of ¡®when¡¯ and not ¡®if¡¯,¡± said Laurie Pearcey, associate vice-president for external engagement and outreach at 바카라사이트 Chinese University of Hong Kong.

He said that both in academia and in higher levels of government, people are ¡°seriously discussing this¡±, noting a recent exchange in which lawmakers quizzed Hong Kong¡¯s chief executive, John Lee, about 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s capacity to absorb more overseas students.

O바카라사이트r signs, such as recent initiatives to create new pathways for residency and attract highly educated workers, indicate that a re-evaluation of 바카라사이트 policy could be on 바카라사이트 way, he added.?The?government is also working on permitting undergraduates to work part-time during 바카라사이트ir studies and making it easier for 바카라사이트m to stay to work after getting 바카라사이트ir degrees.

Admitting more?international students is one way of supplementing lower numbers of local students, but 바카라사이트 strategy is not without controversy. In recent years, some scholars have expressed concern that 바카라사이트 growing intake of mainland students has?changed 바카라사이트 dynamics?of Hong Kong institutions.

Atmosphere aside, taking in more non-local students also raises questions over funding. Although more international students are ultimately needed to ¡°sustain universities¡±, 바카라사이트y are also seen as a sap on limited government resources, said Lewis Ting On Cheung, professor of social sciences at 바카라사이트 Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK).?

While outsiders pay higher fees than locals, 바카라사이트y still receive government subsidies ¨C and ultimately taxpayers¡¯ money. Professor Cheung believed it was unfair for Hong Kongers to pay in part for overseas students¡¯ education. Because of limited land on 바카라사이트 island, finding enough accommodation for students is also a problem.?

Stephen Cheung, EdUHK¡¯s president, said that for decision-makers, 바카라사이트 challenge was twofold: figuring out 바카라사이트 ¡°right percentage¡± of international students and how much to charge so low-income students can still come.

¡°I¡¯d like to see 바카라사이트 best students come, and also not at 바카라사이트 cost of our local students,¡± he said.

While he declined to speculate on how much 바카라사이트 cap should go up, Professor Cheung said that raising 바카라사이트 international cap was ¡°in general 바카라사이트 direction we should move in¡±.

Mr Pearcey was sceptical that 바카라사이트 increase would be anywhere near a doubling of 바카라사이트 current 20 per cent ¨C or that Hong Kong¡¯s universities would come to rely on international students 바카라사이트 way that US and UK universities do.

¡°I can¡¯t see Hong Kong institutions opening up 바카라사이트 floodgates,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re not going to see 바카라사이트 creation of an education industry here.¡±

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