It is often touted that the world has been shifting towardsAsia. Without a doubt, innovation has clearly got a good footingin the East and higher education has been no exception; in the last decade theglobal center of mass of the top 100 ranked universitieshas been constantly shifting towards the East particularly China.
According to 2018 QS world universities ranking out of top 100universities 23 universities are Asian among them 11 universities are based inPeople’s Republic of China (including Hong Kong). The number of students whochoose to study at a university overseas has grown-up significantly in recentdecades. The composition of the globallymobile student body has changed notably over the last decade, with studentmobility shifting from a largely unidirectional east-west flow to amultidirectional movement and encompassing non-traditional sending and hostcountries. China, in particular, has invested significantly in its higher educationsector in the last few years. China’s investmentin internationalized education expands to the top government level, with aconscious understanding that education is a means of investing in thepopulation and student mobility is a chance to influence the futuregeneration. China has built up its own universities to compete with’world-class’ institutions through C9 League, Project211 and Project 985, spreading access to Chinese language and culturelearning and using English as medium of instruction by many universities fordifferent programs.
National University of Singapore, Nanyang TechnologicalUniversity of Singapore, Peking University, Tsinghua University, The Universityof Tokyo, Seoul National University, The University of Hong Kong are some ofthe world class research universities of Asia where even the American andEuropean Students dream for getting their higher study. These universities areas competitive as elite European and American universities in terms of qualityeducation, research and world class infrastructures. Japan was already one ofthe global education hubs for higher study and Singapore has established itselfas world research hub from last one decade. But if you see the recent trend anddevelopment Chinese Universities have already uplifted them compare to otherAsian elite universities and established as the world class research institutesand higher study centre as well as future heart of world higher study andresearch hub.
Many Chinese universities are just behind few British andAmerican world renowned universities in terms of quality education and researchfor higher study. It is a time to viewChina not just as a follower but as potentially a global leader in highereducation. Governments particularly those in non-traditional host countries continuously developing a broad range of strategiesto develop the appeal of their higher education sector to foreign students andscholars, to develop research and teaching links with international partnerswith the aim of increasing institutional visibility. Japan and China, inparticular, have targeted international students as a way to achieve a numberof national aims, including encouraging the internationalization of highereducation in their countries (in part as a tool to drive up research andteaching standards), developing links between Japanese and Chinese universitiesand peer institutions overseas, and developing a workforce that meets the needsof their industries. Chinese universities are internationalizing in many directions.
China’sPresident Xi Jinping had launched numbers of new international initiatives in2015–16, reflecting a big push for China to develop closer links with othercountries across a range of areas. As the broad outline of student mobility slowly changes, political anddemographic changes continue to shape government policies towards internationalstudents. In Asia, for instance, ASEAN nations are working to support localstudents to study in Asia rather than going to western countries’ universities, and already, have launched a ‘ Common Space of Higher Education’ to promotecross-border student mobility and academic incorporation across Southeast Asia.
The international population of students who move to another country tostudy continuously rising. The number of Students studying abroad reachedalmost 5 million in 2014, more than double the 2. 1 million in 2000, with anannual rise of 10%. The OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) has projected that, with demographic changes, international student mobility is likely to reach 8 million students per yearby 2025.
The balance of host nation is beginning to change which was constantover past decade. From several years the USA remains the trendiest destinationfor international students, followed by the UK, Germany, Australia and France. However, the USA and UK’s conventional market share is waning, with China, Japan, and South Korea increasing in popularity among Asian and Africanstudents for higher study. Among Asian higher education hubs Japan and Koreaenjoy high numbers of international students from regional countries: 81% ofinternational students in Japan and 75% in Korea come from other Asian countries. International student mobility is changingwith conventional destinations losing market share. Recently developed geopolitical environments such asBrexit and the US’s taking back hand from multilateral trade and cooperation generateswaves of uncertainty in higher study education concerning internationalcooperation, the free movement of students, education, scientific knowledge andideas.
China is utilizing this situation and has already introduced new international initiatives with its New SilkRoad (One Belt One Road) project, which could potentially spread and incorporateimportant areas of the world across the Euro-Asian continents, but likely onnew and different conditions, and also for higher study education. The size of China’s higher education, research anddevelopment system and the speed at which it develops to global standards isunstoppable. China has already made a ‘ Double World-Class Project’ aiming tohave 40 world-class universities by mid-century, will have an impact on itsmajor competitors globally, not least as it seeks to cooperate with academicpartners along the Silk Road.
The economic powerhouse is moving from the old mechanizedcountries to Asian countries. The economic powerhouse is moving and there aregood reasons to believe also the powerhouse of higher education will move too.
