The education industry globally has in the recent past experienced marked changes verging on violent shakeups. Opposing camps with distinct philosophies have dug in on either side of the tertiary education debate, with there being a rising number of parents and professionals in the education sector who insist that a university education is neither necessary nor does it guarantee you success in this current climate, pointing to self-made success stories who famously skipped the university experience like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. In the opposite camp are the fervent supporters of universal tertiary education. They claim the success stories of Bill Gates and the like are the exception rather than the rule. In an increasingly technologically advanced world, it might take more than just genius to succeed. Formal training is necessary.
That then opens up the question, what is good tertiary education? As a parent, after deciding that university is the inevitable path your child must follow to eventual independence and success, then how do you go about choosing the best school for your child that is not only not break the bank, but will deliver on its legacy for your child? As an expat family in Beijing, the stakes are even higher. You may have spent the equivalent of a small fortune ensuring that your child gets the best that Beijing’s international schools have to offer. But when it comes to applying for universities, especially outside of China, your child is just a drop in the ocean of prospective and highly attractive candidates. Countries such as the UK and the US which have long been favorites with international university students are becoming increasingly inaccessible due to rising political tensions coupled with sentiments discouraging prospective international applicants. So what to do?
As the rest of the west increasingly becomes reticent, China continues to become the destination of choice for international students pursuing everything from their bachelors to their doctorates. In the past year, it became the favorite country for students from Africa, beating out the UK which had long held the position. Expat parents are also increasingly turning to Chinese universities for their international school-educated children, a trend that Richard Coward, founder and CEO of China Admissions has also noticed. Coward might be considered a maverick, having noticed this turn from western to Chinese institutions of higher learning, and created a platform to take the guesswork and worry out of the tedious process of university applications, with the aim of flawless placement of candidates in universities that best suit them and their aspirations. This move has revolutionized how students, both within and without China experience Chinese universities.
Richard giving a talk at GET Global Education Technology conference in Beijing, talking about opportunities for international talent in China.
How did you get into the world of higher education in China?
I was studying philosophy, politics and economics at University of Exeter in the UK. Out of all the subjects I was studying I found China to be the most interesting part. I didn’t want to learn about it in books, I wanted to go to China, and so I enrolled on a semester program at Peking University. After this a number of friends heard about my experience and contacted me because they had difficulty applying. At the same time I was approached by a Chinese university who was looking to carry out international marketing and internationalize their programs. I set up a website for them, marketing material, and admissions processes. It went well and their numbers started growing. I offered the same service to other universities and it kept growing. In 2015 we became a platform where students could apply, and universities could list their programs on the same platform. Now we have over 110 university partners and over 100,000 registered students.We seek to solve the problems that both sides have.
For students, it’s quite hard to find out about programs in China and communication can be hard with students from different countries, time zones and communication platforms, and Chinese universities also have some challenges when it comes to international marketing.
Why is it that you think parents of children in international schools don’t usually consider Chinese universities as a viable option for their children?
I don’t think this is the case anymore, the number of students who are interested in studying in Chinese universities is growing really fast including those from international schools in China. There are some parents who come to us and say that they like to have their children in the same city, country and time zone. There are also others who might look at some of the top universities in China, like Tsinghua, which has recently been ranked number one for engineering or computer science in the world. China is putting a lot of funding into universities, opening new campuses, and they are climbing very rapidly up the international league tables.
Many students, and parents, can see that they can get into a much better ranked university in China, for a fraction of the price as the US, or even with full scholarships (so you can graduate with no student debt), and that Chinese universities can provide very solid career opportunities; also with international exchange opportunities, so you can get the best of both worlds. There are a number of top international universities in China, such Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Duke Kunshan University, University of Nottingham Ningbo, etc. And there are also a large number of top universities for studying Chinese or in Chinese.
Richard giving a talk on a panel about the Property market in China, in Kings College London together with Tsinghua University ICPM Program.
In a nutshell, how can both parents and children ensure that they choosing the right course at the right university for their children? Are there tips and pointers?
I am very fortunate that I had a great education and my family really invested a lot on my and my brothers’ education. I think that choosing where you are going to study is the most important decision you can make. The environment, people, professors, and the whole experience is going to shape the kind of person you are going to become. So it’s definitely worth investing some time to really research the options and gather clear information. I think it’s a huge problem that so many people are making such an important decision with incomplete information. A lot of people are just making quick decisions or following others. I don’t think students are at all ready at 18 to make the right decisions about where they study, and they definitely need guidance and help from parents, school counselors and mentors. I also think it makes sense to go and visit the universities before deciding where to study. Just taking a walk around Peking University or Tsinghua, or the University of Oxford, for example, you can feel the energy and it’s just so inspiring to walk around these top universities and meet some of the talented people there. It puts you on a new level as to what kind of person you can become and what you can achieve. China Admissions is a free platform where you can search courses and apply: www.china-admissions.com, we are funded by universities. We also help to arrange visits to the universities and introduce students to current students already there.
What should parents and students expect when dealing with Chinese universities? Both positive and maybe less so?
It totally depends on the type of university and what your goals are. I do think it’s a huge advantage to study in Chinese if possible because it enables you to really connect with the local students. I also think that the university experience has changed a lot with the rise of the internet, as we can now learn anything online and the nature of careers is now also much more fluid. Universities are now much more about the experience – the people you are with, and what you do outside the classroom.
In your opinion, what is it that Chinese universities have over their foreign counterparts that make them such contenders in the international market?
Top Chinese universities have a lot of funding and very talented people who work extremely hard. There are also a lot of opportunities. If you study in China I think you can get access to a lot of opportunities that others won’t get, especially for your career: for example for computer science, business. You can make some great connections with the professors and fellow students.
In your opinion, what do you feel is the future of international students in Beijing based institutions, especially those who have attended high school here?
These students have an international mindset and understand China. They have opportunities working between China and the west, finding jobs in startup companies, starting companies, marketing, technology, and media. After doing a bachelor’s they may go on to do their master’s overseas, or vice versa.
Photos: Courtesy of Richard Coward, China-admissions.com, efnet.si
1 Comment
Thank you, nice article