CCG Report | The Development of Chinese Students Studying Abroad

Recently, the blue book Annual Report on the Development of Chinese Students Studying Abroad (2020-2021) (hereafter “Report”), jointly compiled by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and the Institute of Development Studies, South West University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE), was published by Social Science Academic Press (China).  

The Report presents up-to-date information on the latest trends related to study abroad - both in China and other countries - against the backdrop of COVID-19 and puts forward relevant policy recommendations. Since 2012, CCG has released seven blue books of the Report on the Development of Chinese Students Studying Abroad, published the Social Science Academic Press (China). Some highlights from the report are outlined below.

Destinations for outbound study are more diversified

According to the statistics of The Open Doors Report 2020 released by the Institute of International Education (IIE), in the 2020-2021 academic year, the number of international students who received tertiary education in the US was 1,075,496, decreasing 1.8% from the 2018-2019 academic year. This is the first time for this number to drop after the 2008 financial crisis. China continues to be the third-largest destination country for studying abroad.

Chart. International Students Receiving Higher Education in the Eight Major Study Destination Countries in the World

Unit: person, %

Rank		Countries	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020
1		US	1078822	1094792	1095299	1075496
2		UK	501045	506480	496570	-
3		China	442773	489200	492185	-
4		Australia	327606	371885	420501	-
5		France	323933	343386	343400	-
6		Canada	312100	370710	435415	-
7		Russia	296178	313089	334497	-
8		Germany	251542	265484	282002	-
Total	3533999	3755026	3899869

Rank	Countries	2016-2017	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020
1	US	3.4%	1.5%	0.05%	-1.8%
2	UK	0.9%	1.1%	-2.0%
3	China	11.4%	10.5%	0.6%
4	Australia	12.1%	13.5%	13.1%
5	France	4.6%	6.0%	0.0%
6	Canada	18.3%	18.8%	17.5%
7	Russia	4.7%	5.7%	6.8%
8	Germany	6.6%	5.5%	6.2%
Total		6.36%	6.25%	3.86%

Source: US Institute of International Education, Project Atlas (2019 release) The Open Doors Report 2020

Decline of the US as a PhD destination

From 2016 to 2017 the proportion of international students pursuing PhDs in the US decreased significantly to 26%, dropping 14 percentage points year-on-year, likely directly or indirectly connected with the Trump administration’s policies which restricted international students. Given the high demand for studying abroad, the proportional decline of students pursuing PhDs in the US might offer new opportunities for other countries.  

Chart 2. Proportion of International Students Pursuing PhD in OECD Countries (2013-2017)

Unit: %

Countries	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Switzerland	52.1%	53.4%	54.3%	54.9%	55.3%
UK	41.4%	42.5%	42.9%	43.2%	42.1%
Australia	33.0%	33.5%	33.8%	33.9%	32.5%
US	32.4%	34.7%	37.8%	40.0%	25.9%
Sweden	31.5%	32.8%	32.7%	34.7%	35.1%
Canada	27.5%	28.9%	29.9%	31.8%	33.4%
OECD Average	22.9%	24.0%	25.2%	25.6%	22.0%

Source：OECD Data

COVID-19 impact

According to the Report, the income of many universities and colleges in the US dropped sharply under the impact of the pandemic. In just a few months of the 2020 Spring semester, the income of universities and colleges across the US has declined by $8 billion. K officials estimate that Covid-19 will cost the UK tertiary education sector £19 billion, which is equivalent to ¥173.3 billion.

Chinese students’ robust demand for outbound study

Covid-19 has not obviously impacted the demand for studying abroad. CCG’s research shows that the although the extensive spread of Covid-19 has brought a certain negative impact on Chinese students seeking to study abroad, students’ demand for internationalized tertiary education has not changed fundamentally. Studying abroad will remain as an important trend for future development despite of its delay during the pandemic.

Policy recommendations

In addition to highlighting the key trends in outbound study, the report also make policy recommendations in key areas, namely top-level design, destinations of study abroad, Sino-foreign cooperation in running schools, Chinese international schools, the protection of the rights and interests of overseas students, and overseas students returning to China.

CCG Books

● Published by Springer 

● Edited by Wang Huiyao, President and Miao Lu, Vice President, Center for China and Globalization(CCG), Beijing, China 

More Information

The internationalization of Chinese enterprises is one of the most notable aspects of economic globalization in the 21st century. Despite the 2008 financial crisis and weak global outbound investment, under the “go global“ initiative, Chinese outbound investment has gone from strength to strength, while also diversifying in terms of investment modalities, destinations, and industries. However, growing anti-globalization sentiment in some countries has also created new challenges for Chinese firms expanding internationally.

Drawing on nearly 3000 data samples, using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, this book presents unique insights into the features and patterns of Chinese enterprises’ globalization. The analysis provides a useful reference for enterprises that have already gone global and those that plan to. In particular, this book investigates challenges confronted by Chinese companies when doing business in foreign countries. It summarizes research covering three angles, namely: the current situation, causation analysis and corresponding solutions, and recommendations for firms, government agencies and other institutions.

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● Links：

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● Published by Edward Elgar 

● Edited by Wang Huiyao, President and Miao Lu, Vice President, Center for China and Globalization(CCG), Beijing, China 

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An excellent guide for understanding the trends, challenges and opportunities facing China through globalization, this Handbook answers the pertinent questions regarding the globalization process and China’s influence on the world.

With contributions from leading experts and international researchers, each chapter covers key topics regarding China’s participation in globalization, including: China’s new role in global economic governance; outward direct investment; China’s soft power and the implications for foreign relations; global migration, diaspora and talent. An enriching range of case studies and extensive empirical research are used to explore the successes and failures of globalization in China, and to discuss the dilemmas facing decision makers in today’s globalized world. A major contribution to the field, this Handbook offers valuable insights to China’s often misunderstood globalization process.

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● Links：

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● Published by Springer

● Authors: Wang Huiyao, President and Miao Lu, Vice President, Center for China and Globalization(CCG), Beijing, China 

The first effort to address the gap regarding higher-end talent within the scholarly work on internal labor migration in China

Provides an essential overview of the major milestones in China’s talents attraction policies, as well as several recommendations to help further improve those policies

Investigates corresponding policies in Germany, Japan, and Singapore to serve as a basis for comparison

Provides a snapshot of first-hand reference material for relevant stakeholders involved in cooperation with China

More Information

This book offers the most comprehensive, up-to-date assessment of China’s domestic and international migration. Restructuring economic development requires large numbers of educated and skilled talents, but this effort comes at a time when the size of China’s domestic workforce is shrinking. In response, both national and regional governments in China have been keen to encourage overseas Chinese talents and professionals to return to the country. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has initiated a number of policies to attract international highly-skilled talents and enhance the country’s competitiveness, and some Chinese policies have started attracting foreign talents, who are coming to the country to work, and even to stay. Since Chinese policies, mechanisms, and administration efforts to attract and retain skilled domestic or overseas talents are helping to reshape China’s economy and are significantly affecting the cooperation on migration and talent mobility, these aspects, in addition to being of scholarly and research interest, hold considerable commercial potential.

● Links：

https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811362552#aboutBook

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