Studying abroad is still proving popular despite the global economic recession.
Nearly 20,000 visitors packed the ShanghaiMart recently for the annual China International Education Exhibition Tour, which attracted 249 educational institutes from around the world.
“I believe the number of Chinese students seeking education abroad will continue to grow this year,” said An Yuxiang, deputy director of Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange under the Chinese Ministry of Education.
Despite the financial crisis, 229,300 Chinese studied abroad in 2009, 27.5 percent more than in 2008, according to the ministry.
Since 1978 when the country began to encourage overseas study, 1.6 million Chinese had gone abroad to continue their studies by the end of last year.
Kevin Yao, a high school student, was at the fair with his mother:
“I want to send him to the United States for bachelor’s degree study,” the mother said. “It’s better to be early birds.”
Yao’s family traveled to the US last year to let their son experience American society and culture.
They consulted several schools about their majors and compared tuition, scholarship and employment prospects.
“Business may not be a choice,” Yao’s mother said. “It may be difficult to find job because too many Chinese choose to learn business administration overseas.”
According to Shanghai Overseas Talent Service Center, more than two-thirds of overseas returnees studied economics, business, humanities and social sciences.
via Students still keen on an overseas education — Shanghai Daily | English Window to China New.
