Internationalization of China's Higher Education in the Past 30 Years: A Longitudinal, Cross-Sectional Study

• In Event: International Relations Committee Paper Session 2

Abstract

This paper studies the internationalization of Chinese higher education: the level, extent and patterns of outbound Chinese students and inbound foreign students studying in China. Based on a construct of positioned/positioning/repositioning, this paper positions the development and changes in Chinese higher education in the context of international comparative education. Data analysis in this longitudinal, cross-sectional study with 30 years of descriptive statistics shows several changes in the internationalization of higher education in China and worldwide. In particular, this study highlights quantitative trends in recent years (number of students, variations in the host and sending countries, levels and fields of study of Chinese students studying abroad and international students studying in China) and provides some brief interpretations and suggestions.

Authors

• Xue Lan Rong, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• Shuguang Wang, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill