Name: Muhammad Kashif (尹宽)

Registration No: I202122039

Assignment # 3

China is now one of the leading host countries of international students in the world.

China’s level of international education policy-making over the past decade, backed up by

strategic priorities, has been unprecedented.

They aim to:

• Calibrate to the Chinese government’s grand scheme of national rejuvenation.

• Expand their global reach and market influence.

• Enhance their professional impact and managerial efficiency.

• Respond to the community repercussions of growing numbers of international students.

1. Introduction

International education has now become a necessary wing in global education. This move has
been gladly embraced by China and has placed it on a path to attract foreign students from all
over the world. Currently, internationalization of higher education in China, has in recent
decades seen great progress and has placed China as an emerging leading global strong hold in
international education, thereby moulding China’s educational system into one of the most
promising, largest and affordable in the world (Yang, 2014). Reports, indicates that presently,
China, attracts a large number of international students from all over the world (Ma, 2017). The
following are data from the statistical report on international students in China for the year 2018
by the Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE, 2019).
Item 1. Number/percent of international students by continent.
Continent Number Percent
Asia 295,043 59.95%
Africa 81,562 16.57%
Europe 73,618 14.96%
America 35,733 7.26%
Oceania 6229 1.27%

Item 2. Number of international students by country of origin.

Rank Country Number

No.1 South Korea 50,600
No.2 Thailand 28,608
No.3 Pakistan 28,023
No.4 India 23,198
No.5 United States 20,996
No.6 Russia 19,239
No.7 Indonesia 15,050
No.8 Laos 14,645
No.9 Japan 14,230
No.10 Kazakhstan 11,784
No.11 Vietnam 11,299
No.12 Bangladesh 10,735
No.13 France 10,695
No.14 Mongolia 10,158
No.15 Malaysia 9479
 Item 3. The top 10 provinces/cities with the largest number of international students.
Province/City Number
Beijing 80,786
Shanghai 61,400
Jiangsu Province 45,778
Zhejiang Province 38,190
Liaoning Province 27,879
Tianjin 23,691
Guangdong Province 22,034
Hubei Province 21,371
Yunnan Province 19,311
Shandong Province 19,078

Furthermore, statistics on the number/percent of international students by source of funding

revealed that: 63,041 international students (12.81%) received Chinese government scholarships,
and 429,144 (87.19%) were self-funded.
A top study destination in the making

China was on the way to becoming a top destination for studying abroad well before the COVID-
19 pandemic.

By 2018, 492,185 international students from 196 countries studied in mainland China. They

were enrolled in 1,004 higher education institutions.

International student numbers had doubled since 2009, when 238,184 were enrolled. Back in
1978 the total was a mere 1,236.

The Study in China Initiative, Liuxue zhongguo jihua, first appeared in 2010 in the National

Outline for Mid- and Long-Term Education Planning and Development.

The growth of the initiative over the past decade echoes across China’s laws, five-year plans,
guidelines and action plans, and government decisions, opinions, regulations, notices and
explanations.

2010 was a turning point

Between 2007 and 2009, the Chinese Ministry of Education had signalled that it was against the
reckless pursuit of international student enrolments at the expense of quality education. This was
a fleeting period of slight uncertainty for the sector.

In 2010, state policy-making re-endorsed mass international education in China. Study in China
was to be built into a global education brand.

The plan specified annual enrolment targets, culminating in 500,000 students in 2020. This
included 150,000 degree-seeking students. Yearly targets were set to develop exemplary sites,
programmes and courses for international education.

The overall goal was to make China the largest study abroad destination in Asia by the end of
the decade. This was achieved in 2017-18. Subsequent state policies focused on legal, financial
and administrative improvements. Increasing funding was made available through national,
local, government and corporate scholarships and stipends for international students.

Education’s place in a broader global strategy

The mid-2010s defined the orientation of international education in China. The Study in China
Initiative was subsumed under the new global strategy, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It is a
‘roadmap’ for China’s higher education to step onto the world stage.

Study in China is part of the core political discourse of national rejuvenation.

We can see this in the official 2019 Study in China Guide. The guide depicts the BRI as a core
strength and essential knowledge about China. It powerfully demonstrates China’s market
aspirations and appeal to international students.

The Chinese government’s Silk Road Scholarship Program sponsors 10,000 new international

students a year from countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. Universities can
apply for state funding to run a BRI talent development site for large cohorts of these students.

Research grant schemes fund studies that improve the quality of international education, while
supporting BRI work in infrastructure, trade, culture and diplomacy.

The Belt and Road Initiative is central to China’s rapid shift from major importer to rising
exporter of international education. In 2017, 317,200 international students came from BRI
countries, 64.85% of the total.

Management and regulations of international students

At the national level, all four government officials agreed that all international students who are
accepted by Chinese HEIs do not have any difficulties in their first entry, and it is necessary for
all international students to abide by national laws and regulations. The latest requirement in the
Decree No. 42 allows work-study experiences for international students during their study
period, and they are encouraged to have internships in China and spend part of them study time
to learn more about Chinese society. After graduation, students need to go through certain
procedures to obtain a work visa, or they must return home immediately. Participants mentioned
that China has relatively tight regulations on foreign nationals’ long-term residence,

but it welcomes high-level talents to stay (N = 5).

What is the situation in your country?

Foreign students at International universities have always been a source of academic and
economic contributions towards their host and sending institutions, for which foreign learners
have gained considerable importance in higher education (Knight, 2015; Varghese, 2008).
Internationalization of higher education is gaining interest due to various needs of the
international communities. Increasing number of universities accepting a higher number of
international students each year in universities shows the importance of internationalization
education.

In Pakistan, Higher education commission (HEC) motivates Pakistani nationals, living abroad, or
foreigner students to take admission in higher education institutes of Pakistan. For this HEC has
reserved seats for MBBS, BDS, BE/BSC Pharm-D on self-finance scheme, for foreign nationals
or dual nationality holder Pakistani origin students. Almost 1225 applications have been
processed in HEC from foreign national or Pakistani origin foreign students in the field of
MBBS, BDS, Pharm D and CS & IT field from the Gulf and around areas. The institution needs
a lot of efforts to retain this international applicant. Especially in the field of education, students
who come from other countries, institutions help them to adjust in host country quickly and plan
to reduce their social, behavioral and academic issues.

Higher Education in Pakistan

Higher education in Pakistan has increased many folds in the last few decades and has gained
momentum since HEC started its functions in 2002. The number of universities has increased
from 2 to 138 from 1947 to 2012, out of which 75 universities are from public sector and 63 are
in private sector. As a result, student enrollment has also increased many folds from 276274 in
2001-02 to1594648 in 2012-13.
Internationalization of Education in Pakistan has also adopted the policy of internationalization
of higher education quite liberally. As a result, many students went abroad to get higher
education and the trend has increased with fast pace that can be seen in 2012, approximately
35086 students went to foreign universities for study mainly to USA and UK and also to
Australia, Germany, Malaysia, Canada, etc. (UNESCO, 2012). Outbound mobility of Pakistani
students according to countries. Although, parents in Pakistan are mainly financing higher
education of their children studying abroad, Pakistani government through HEC is also providing
finance for higher education abroad. Under the HEC overseas scholarship scheme, a total of
4986 scholars have been sent abroad/financed under various programs for MS, PhD and post-
doctoral research. Out of these, 2375 have successfully completed their studies and returned to
serve Pakistan. Most of the students went abroad in the field of Engineering & Technology
followed by Physical Sciences. Further, under Faculty Development Program of HEC a total of
1569 overseas scholarships for PhD studies have been awarded. Out of these, 178 scholars have
completed their PhDs. Under the program of „Development of High Level Manpower S&T
through Split PhD Program‟ 86 scholars have been sent abroad for split PhD. Advanced
countries are also providing scholarships to students from Pakistan. The world’s largest Fulbright
Scholarship Program provides scholarship to many Pakistani students each year to study in the
US. Similarly, many students travel to Australia for study under the Australia Pakistan
Scholarship Program.

International Students in Pakistan: Place of Origin

International Students in Pakistan: Place of Origin Sr. # Country No. of Foreign Students
Admitted Afghanistan 440, China 315, Somalia 133, Turkey 60, Saudi Arabia 46, Sudan 24,
Others 207 and Total 1225.

Pakistani government is striving hard to turn Pakistan into a knowledge based economy. To this
end, the Pakistani government has planned to offer international level education to Pakistanis in
the country. The objective is to make Pakistan a hub of international higher education in South
and East Asia. For this purpose, Pakistan has taken steps to establish good quality science and
technology universities in the country in collaboration with well reputed international
institutions.

Internationalization Policy for Higher Education in Pakistan

Following the Malaysian model, the internationalization policy for higher education in Pakistan
should be formulated with six critical aspects with the aim to recruitment maximum number of
international students. These six points are:

1. Student Mobility 2. Staff Mobility 3. Academic Programs 4. Research and Development 5.

Governance and Autonomy, and 6. Social Integration and Community Engagement.

Conclusion:

The current problems in Pakistan’s political and social systems have led the country to lag
behind in providing its students a high-learning environment addressing the globalization,
technological innovations, quality education and a credible course offering, as compared to the
western states (Parveenet al., 2011).The internationalization policy for higher education in
Pakistan is an initiative towards transforming Pakistan into an education hub to become a
knowledge-based economy and to attract international students. In recent years European Credit
Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) under the spirit of Bologna Process is an excellent
example in internationalization of higher education efforts. Similarly, it is very much important
for Pakistan to broaden its cooperation in bringing harmony in their higher education system on
regional and international basis on student and faculty mobility forefronts. Student mobility
initiatives, strategies initiatives and process will surely facilitate accomplishment of the end
objectives of internationalization efforts in Pakistan.