漲潮還是退潮：中國學生還想在美國留學嗎

1、United States more than double the student numbers from India, the second largest national cohort. 2 The number of students from China in the U.S. nearly tripled over the past 10 years.It is also true that enrollments from China had begun to slow in the past several years, as reported in Open Doors

2、2020*. Even before the pandemic closed Americas borders to Chinese students and visitors, the number of enrolled undergraduates from China fell slightly, from a high of 148,880 in 2018/19 to 148,160 in 2019/20. The much smaller number of students pursuing non-degree courses (often Intensive English

3、or short-term certificate programs) fell more steeply, down 8%. However, the numbers of Chinese graduate students on U.S. campuses rose 3% and Chinese students pursuing Optional Practical Training rose 2%.3 Data from theCouncil of Graduate Schools (CGS) on first-time (“new”) graduate enrollments is

4、more concerning in the face of the pandemic: CGS reports that new enrollments from China decreased by 37% in fall 2020, while first-time Indian student enrollments declined 66%. 4As U.S. campuses started shutting down in spring 2020, many enrolled Chinese students (like other international students)

5、 stayed on in the U.S. for online and hybrid instruction rather than returning home, and thus were able to continue their U.S. education. But with very few new Chinese students able to travel to the U.S. in fall 2020 due to COVlD-related travel restrictions and the health-related suspension of routi

6、ne visa services at U.S. embassy and consulates across China, the numbers of Chinese students enrolled in U.S. higher education did decline sharply in fall 2020, as did all international student enrollments, - down 16% overall according to IIEs fall 2020 snapshot survey. The drop in those physically

7、 remaining on campus was even steeper, but fortunately many U.S. colleges and universities offered international students the opportunity to enroll in online courses. Some institutions even partnered with home country universities to deliver online instruction in classroom settings, including some d

8、elivered in partner universities in China. Nearly all the major host countries for international students experienced the same steep decline in international student enrollments in fall 2020, and few are certain how quickly the numbers will rebound.IIEs series of surveys assessing the impact of COVI

9、D-19 on U.S. higher education in 2020 found that most enrolled international students (including those from China) were pursuing their U.S. study online in fall 2020, some of them having remained in U.S. and others studying in theirMarte I, M., Baer, J., And rejko, N., & Mason, L. (2020). Open Doois

10、 2020 Report on Intel notional Educational Exchange.Institute of I nte mation aI Education. Ibid . Zhou, E. & Gao, J. (2020). Intel notional Gi oduote Applications and Eni ollment. Fall 2020. Council of Graduate Studies. Baer, J. & Marte I, M. (2020). Fall 2020 Intel notional Student Fall Snapshot S

11、urvey . ! nstitute of I nte mation aI Education.A Rising or Ebbing Tide. Do chinese Students SU/ lost to Study in the U.S.? 3home countries. 6 However, more than 40,000 international students chose to defer their admission rather than start their U.S. higher education online. This suggests that inte

12、rnational enrollments, including from China, may well rise again in fall 2021, subject to several volatile variables.Much will depend on the number of COVID-19 cases across the U.S. in summer 2021 and the operating status of U.S. colleges and universities, as well as the status of U.S. travel restri

13、ctions, access to consular services, and perceptions abroad of Americans attitudes toward students from Asia, and especially from China. Ongoing Justice Department investigations of intellectual property theft by a small number of scholars and graduate students exacerbate concerns regarding the acti

14、ons of the government of China. While U.S. colleges and universities continueto reassure international students that they are welcome and safe on campus and in the local community, a recent Gallup poll (released on March 15t) found that Americans favorableratings of China as a country have fallen to

15、 a low of 20% from last years 34% favorable rating, the lowest approval rate since 1979. 7 A recent Pew poll that asked Americans whether the U.S. should limit Chinese students in the U.S. found that 55% of respondents agreed, including 69% of Republicans and 42% of Democrats. Meanwhile, anti-Asian

16、and especially anti-Chinese attacks (limited, but growing in number) are being reported across the U.S. and widely covered in global media. Students and parents in China and Hong Kong follow these reports closely, often from local internet and media sources that highlight and distort the risks of st

17、udying in the U.S. Recent data tracking use of the Common App at 900 US higher education institutions showed an 18% decline in undergraduate applications from China for fall 2021, with increased applications from other major sending countries like India (up 28%) and Brazil (up 41%).0 Some of the dec

18、line may be attributed to the shrinking size of Chinas college-age population unlike the growing youth population in other major sending countries.Across Chinas mainland, as is true globally, students decisions about study abroad will be primarily affected by concern for quality, financial considera

19、tions, and the impact of theMa rte I, M. (2020). COVID-1 9 Effects on U.S. Highei Education Campuses. Fi om Emei gency Response to Planning foi FutureStudent Mobility. Institute of Inte mation aI Education.Younis, M. (2021, Ma rch 1) . China, Russia Images in U.S. Hit Historic Lows . Ga flu p, Acces

20、se d Ma rch 29, 202 1 https:/news.ga flu /pot I/331082/china-russia-i mages-hit-historic-loves.aspx.Si Ive r, L, Devli n, K. & Hua n, C. (202 1, Ma rch 4). Most Anne rica ns Su pport Tough Sta nce Tov7a rd China on Hu ma n Rights , Economic Issues. Per Resea rch Ce nter. Accesse d on Ma rch 29, 202

21、1 https:/v7v7v7.pev7research .org/globa I/2021/03/04/most- america ns-support-tough-stance-toward-china-on-huma n-rights-economic-issues/.BBC (2021, Ma rch 1). Covid hate crimes against Asia n Anne rica ns on rise. BBC News. Access ed Mach 29, 2021 https:/v7v7v7. /news/world-us -ca nada-56218684.* J

22、aschik, S. (202 1, Ja n ua ry 26) . Ala rm bet Is on first-gene ration, low-income a pplica nts . Inside Higher Ed . Access ed Ma rch 29, 202 1 https:/v7v7v7.i ns idehighered .com/ad miss ions/a rticIe/2 02 1/01/26/common-apps- new-data -s how-over aII-gains-a pplications -not-first.A Rising or Ebbi

23、ng Tide. Do chinese Students SU/ lost to Study in the U.S.?pandemic both at home and in possible host countries, along with any ongoing travel restrictions and limitations on access to visa services. Uncertainty about whether U.S.-China relations will improve under the Biden Administration is not li

24、kely to influence students enrollment decisions for fall 2021, since students and their families begin planning for study abroad years in advance. In a recent internal survey conducted by the College Board shortly after the November elections, Chinese students were not significantly less likely to s

25、tudy abroad than during the prior four years, and the U.S. remained their top destination of choice. Compared to other international students, Chinese students seeking study abroad prioritized host universities “academic reputation and rankings” above “career opportunities” and “prospects after grad

26、uation,” the latter being attractive selling points for some other host countries which offer clearer pathways to citizenship for international students.Meanwhile, Chinese students and their parents share a range of concerns. Drawing on input from colleague organizations such as College Board, Educa

27、tional Testing Service, and the National Association for College Admission Counseling, local press coverage, as well as helpful public guidance from the State Departments EducationUSA network, we would like to highlight the following concerns:Worry about whether host countries have effective health

28、and safety measures. Chinese media often exaggerate reports of uncontrolled COVID-19 spread in the United States and dont convey the safety measures U.S. universities have taken.U.S.-China political tension and misinformation about its impact on visiting students and scholars.Lack of visits to China

29、 by U.S. campus representatives, due to Chinas travel restrictions and safety concerns. For more than a year, Chinese parents have not had face-to-face interaction with potential campuses, losing opportunities to ask questions and build personal relationships. The person-to-person connection is part

30、icularly important in China one not easily replicated online.Chinas limiting of access to some U.S. social media sites. Unless U.S. campuses utilize Chinese social media platforms like Weibo and WeChat, their promotional information is not shared with this audience.Ongoing concerns about media repor

31、ts of anti-Asian sentiment and/or hate crimes in the United States. U.S. schools need to highlight their support of Asian students and how they are safely integrated on campus and in the wider community.Continued visa appointment delays and fear of an extended back-log when U.S. Consular Services ca

32、n resume safely.Standardized testing delays and testing site closures create obstacles for admissions.U.S. schools are now providing more flexibility in terms of application deadlines,A Rising or Ebbing Tide. Do chinese Students SU/ lost to Study in the U.S.? 5admission requirements, and standardize

33、d test requirements, with many going “test- optional” or allowing alternative and cheaper testing options.Chinese students have experienced problems obtaining key documents such as official transcripts for their application packets, including graduation certificates, due to school closures and delay

34、ed graduation dates.Students fear missing the on-campus experience and networking opportunities during the pandemic. Families are reluctant to pay high tuition costs for online-only instruction. Students may defer enrollment until classes can resume fully in-person, fearing the quality of online stu

35、dy will not match that in-person.Issues with online learning when logging in from China. Synchronous virtual learning is not ideal for students who are heading to bed just as morning classes start in the U.S. Also, Chinas Great Firewall and internet monitors make online learning less attractive and

36、problematic. The number of Chinese students taking online classes at U.S. higher education institutions is not easy to track, and the online instructional model is not generally favored by Chinese students, according to local school counselors. In addition, students must use a virtual private networ

37、k (VPN) for many of the learning platforms when connecting from China due to access/firewall issues. Chinese students have also noted they are concerned about privacy/rights when talking about sensitive topics online from their home country.Some U.S. campuses have engaged with partner universities i

38、n China to host online classes, and others like New York University (NYU), that have a branch campus or partner institution in China, have used these facilities to host admitted students unable to come to the main campus in the United States. NYU Shanghai reportedly hosted about 2,300 Chinese underg

39、raduates in fall 2020 semester in response to travel restrictions. These students joined approximately 1,700 students already registered at NYU Shanghai in Fall 2020.For students in Hong Kong, the risk/reward calculus is quite different. Hong Kongers are keenly aware of the Chinese Communist Partys

40、increased influence on Hong Kong universities, growing pressure on faculty and the media to reflect official perspectives, and the shrinking space for independent and critical thinking. Students from Hong Kong once represented the largest share of international students in the U.S. (10,764 or 7% of

41、total international students in 1973/74), including students from Chinas mainland who fled to Hong Kong during theCultural RevoIutio, n 11 By 2019/20, the number of students from Hong Kong had fallen to 6,778,and Hong Kong no longer ranked among the top 25 places of orig,in 12 Numbers had beenIIE (2

42、021). Oqen Ooors Website. Accessed March 29, 2021 /.Martel, M., Baer, 1., Andrejko, N., & Mason, L. (2020). Open Doors GOZO Report on International Educational Exchange. Institute of International Education.A Rising or Ebbing Tide: Do Chinese Students Still Want to Study in the U.S.? 6falling for de

43、cades, as Hong Kong expanded its own universities capacity, and as study in Canada, the U.K., Taiwan, Australia, and Southeast Asia became increasingly attractive options, often at lower cost and higher levels of perceived safety. Opinion polls in Hong Kong continued to show the U.S. valued as offer

44、ing the highest quality of instruction and the most scholarships, but these benefits can be offset by concerns about safety, perceived growing hostility towards international students, and most recently health concerns.With COVID-19 largely contained in Hong Kong and Chinas mainland, while still sur

45、ging in someU.S. states, Hong Kong students are tending to stay at home for study or apply to other host countries that offer easier pathways to citizenship or post-graduate work opportunity. The British National Overseas (BNO) Passport now allows Hong Kong students to apply for residency after grad

46、uation (3 years) followed by 2 years of work. Hong Kongs local Chinese language newspaper Ming Pao (11/16/2020) reported a 44% increase in Hong Kong students applying to study in Taiwan, due to Taiwans effective response to controlling COVID-19 and the wide range of program choices offered in Taiwan

47、s universities, compared to those in Hong Kong. The Oriental Daily reported in late-December 2020 that Hong Kong students applications to theU.K. and Australia increased 16% and 14% respectively, with students looking for permanent residency opportunities due to the unstable political circumstances

48、in Hong Kong. An earlier survey in November found that onIy 16% of Hong Kong undergrads would like to go overseas for postgraduate study. Among this small share of students, 17% hoped to go to the U.S., 12.2% to the U.K., 10.8% to Japan, and 10.8% to Taiwan.Meanwhile, increased protests and politica

49、l crackdowns have driven more students and their parents to explore avenues to leave Hong Kong if they can afford to do so. In the past, Hong Kong families tended to be highly “brand-sensitive” and considered only a handful of top-tierU.S. universities as options. However, EducationUSA advisers now

50、are getting inquiries about the full range of U.S. higher education options, including community colleges. Upticks in interest at the high school level, as well as among students currently enrolled in Hong Kong universities, reflect a growing “exodus” mentality among parents and students. Most attra

51、ctive,however, will be host countries that offer pathways to permanent residency, with some experts predicting a big wave of Hong Kongers relocating to the U.K. in 2021.For American campuses to continue attracting the best and brightest students from Hong Kong and Chinas mainland, timely and targeted outreach by U.S. higher education institutions and by U.S. government officials in the coming weeks and months will be crucial. Many campuses are mobilizing their Chinese alumni and currently enrolled students to send positive messages back home to pot