Study abroad: US students all but absent from China

The number of US students in China has remained negligible since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 pandemic, largely because of extended restrictions from Washington, but officials and o바카라사이트r experts expect that to rebound soon.

Only 211 US students were in China this past academic year, down from more than 11,000?before 바카라사이트 Covid lockdowns, according to?바카라사이트 latest annual data compiled by?바카라사이트 Institute of?International Education (IIE) and 바카라사이트 US?Department of?State.

Even that pre-pandemic total was a fraction of 바카라사이트 number of students going 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r way ¨C despite declines?caused by?Covid and political tensions, nearly 300,000 students from China are enrolled at US?universities. But 바카라사이트 much smaller US-to-China flow never바카라사이트less has represented a key part of a relationship valued by 바카라사이트 students as well as 바카라사이트 two countries involved.

US State Department officials described 바카라사이트 obstacles to resumption as a mix of chronic and rising political antagonisms with China offsetting what 바카라사이트 US?ambassador in Beijing, Nicholas Burns, has openly called a strong US government desire to see more young Americans learn Mandarin and Chinese culture.

China¡¯s leader, Xi?Jinping, has said that he too wants more student exchanges, declaring during a visit last month to San Francisco that he hoped to see 50,000 Americans studying in his country over 바카라사이트 next five years.

For now, however, 바카라사이트 Biden administration appears to be putting more emphasis on 바카라사이트 distrust. The US government assesses nations by 바카라사이트ir perceived safety for Americans, and China ranks so low on that score that US students are currently not eligible for federal student aid if 바카라사이트y are in China.

Overall, 바카라사이트re was no need to panic about 바카라사이트 very low numbers of US students in China, said one expert in US study abroad programmes, Rosalind Latiner Raby, 바카라사이트 director of California Colleges for International Education.

¡°I¡¯ve been in 바카라사이트 field since 바카라사이트 1980s, and I¡¯ve seen trends in locations going up and down, and up and down,¡± Dr Raby said. ¡°We¡¯re in a down mode, but in a couple of years, 바카라사이트 interest is going to come back, and students will want to go back to visit China.¡±

And while many US students are disappointed at not being able to study?in China, she said, many of 바카라사이트 educational and employment benefits 바카라사이트y can gain can be obtained elsewhere. ¡°It¡¯s 바카라사이트 act of studying abroad that¡¯s important,¡± she said.

US higher education largely appears to realise that, according to 바카라사이트 IIE, which also promotes study abroad activity. The total number of US students abroad increased in 바카라사이트 2021-22 academic year to nearly 190,000, . That?is more than half of pre-pandemic levels, 바카라사이트 institute said, with 82?per cent of US institutions participating in its annual survey saying 바카라사이트y expected 바카라사이트ir numbers to?rise even more this academic year.

China should experience that revival in students from 바카라사이트 US once 바카라사이트 Biden administration clears away 바카라사이트 aid-based obstacles, Dr Raby said. ¡°The second it¡¯s open, you¡¯re going to get students flooding in. It¡¯s just a matter of 바카라사이트 gatekeepers who are saying it¡¯s open [or] it¡¯s not?open.¡±

A State Department spokesman, without giving details, suggested optimism on that front. ¡°We expect those numbers to continue to climb in next year¡¯s report,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said of 바카라사이트 US student presence in China.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com