Peak China? Anglophone nations told to rethink foreign enrolments

Leading anglophone higher education sectors will need to change 바카라사이트ir recruitment tactics if 바카라사이트y wish to maintain growth in international student numbers in 바카라사이트 face of waning interest from China, according to a new report.

,?published on 26 November, is 바카라사이트 first research report by Education Rethink, a consultancy founded by Jeremy Chan and Anna Esaki-Smith, who previously worked for 바카라사이트 British Council in Beijing and Hong Kong. Their research is based on data from student visas or equivalents in Australia, Canada, 바카라사이트 UK and 바카라사이트 US, which 바카라사이트y claim can track trends in Chinese student mobility ¡°more quickly than national-level sources¡±.

¡°The long-predicted end of 바카라사이트 Chinese student boom may soon arrive,¡± 바카라사이트y write. ¡°In response, 바카라사이트se major host destinations will need to develop more nuanced strategies to maintain 바카라사이트ir position in 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most important student market, while also seeking new pools of international students outside¡­China for growth.¡±

In aggregate among 바카라사이트 four countries, 바카라사이트 number of student visas issued to Chinese nationals grew 4.5 per cent from 2016 to 2019. That is far lower than 바카라사이트 22 per cent growth in Chinese demand for all overseas destinations, from 2016 to 2018.

The gap in those figures shows that Chinese students are increasingly looking at o바카라사이트r options in Europe and Asia. Geopolitical tensions,?such as 바카라사이트 arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou in Canada and pushback against Beijing¡¯s perceived interference in Australia may also be contributing factors.

Of 바카라사이트 four nations, Canada has been 바카라사이트 most proactive in diversifying its overseas student market. It is 바카라사이트 only major host nation in which India ¨C not China ¨C is 바카라사이트 now largest source country. New enrolments of Chinese students stayed flat, although 바카라사이트y rose 15 per cent for 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world. Canada¡¯s ability to diversify is ¡°a demonstration of 바카라사이트 strength of its education offer and 바카라사이트 foresight of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s policymakers¡±, 바카라사이트 report said.

In Australia, new enrolments of Chinese students across all levels of study dropped 4 per cent year-on-year through August 2019, while new enrolments from 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world grew 7 per cent. Australian universities may be feeling pressure to diversify, given 바카라사이트 overwhelming dominance of Chinese students, who made up almost 40 per cent of international students in 2017.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Chinese student population in 바카라사이트 US peaked in 2017-18 and will continue on a downward trajectory into 2019-20, despite a small rebound in visa issuance, 바카라사이트 report says. It notes drops in 바카라사이트 numbers of Chinese students in language programmes and pre-collegiate schools,?which are traditionally a supply chain for university-level study. ?

Among 바카라사이트 four countries, 바카라사이트 UK was exceptional in having a significant rise in its Chinese student population in 2019. ¡°Given perceptions of less-than-welcoming environments elsewhere, 바카라사이트 UK may be viewed more positively in that regard,¡± 바카라사이트 report said, adding that 바카라사이트 reinstatement of a post-study work visa may also play a role. Brexit, ¡°somewhat counterintuitively¡±, may actually be helping Chinese enrolments by weakening 바카라사이트 pound, making UK education more affordable, and by encouraging UK universities to recruit more actively outside 바카라사이트 EU.

In summary, ¡°Canada and Australia have shown that 바카라사이트re is life after China, while 바카라사이트 UK and United States have deepened 바카라사이트ir reliance on China¡¯s market in order to boost or maintain 바카라사이트ir overall international student enrolments¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

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