Pros and Cons of Overseas Study

By staff reporter XIAO QIAO

An agent recruiting students to study in Canada.

THE Chinese word for Sea Turtle, Haigui, has recently taken on a whole new meaning. In the modern Chinese vernacular, it refers to overseas Chinese students who have returned to their motherland, to contribute to China’s economic boom. Since the end of the 1970s, more than 700,000 Chinese students have left their native towns to pursue academic courses in foreign universities. By the end of 2003, more than 170,000 had returned, and the number is rising with every passing year.

The All China Youth Federation (ACYF) recently carried out a survey, to find out more about this growing community, the student’s lives abroad, and their prospects when they return home. The survey, first of its kind in China, was conducted online, and drew responses from almost 3,097 people in 49 different countries and regions around the globe. The average age of respondents was 29, and two thirds of them were male. Based on their answers, the ACYF compiled a detailed, 60,000 word report. Following are some of its most salient parts.

Most Students Are Self-funding

Thirty-nine percent of respondents said they had a very strong desire, and 48 percent said that they had a strong desire to study in a foreign university. Students cited better education, living environment and career opportunities as the main reasons why they were drawn overseas.

The survey indicates that Chinese students are dispersed in 49 countries and regions. Ninety six percent of the respondents were based in Europe, North America, Australia and Eastern Asia, the 10 most popular destinations being the U.K., the U.S.A, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Singapore, France and Netherlands. The U.K. recently overtook the U.S.A as Chinese students’ most preferred destination.

A battery powered car on display at the 2004 Returned Overseas Chinese Students Achievements.

Some 79 percent of overseas students are self-supporting, with just 5.5 percent on government scholarships and grants. Most of those on scholarships studied in the United States.

More than half of the returnees were aware that their peers admire and envy them, although most preferred to play down their overseas experiences. Mr. Wang, back from his studies in Germany, said, “I feel enveloped in an aura of admiration in anything I do, from looking for a job to making new friends.”

Building One’s Character

When asked what their greatest achievement had been while living overseas, 36.6 percent of the respondents answered “building my character,” 31.5 percent “seeing the world,” and 24 percent “improving my professional skills.” Ms Liu, currently in her third year of study at New Zealand’s Auckland University, has experienced a number of problems. Visas, exam technique, housing and transportation can be quite troublesome for overseas Chinese students. Many of her friends stay with local families, as they have bad experiences with landlords. Some have had to resort to legal action to resolve disputes. Liu thinks that these episodes, although distressing, can be character building.

Living abroad is no easy matter, and many people experience language and cultural barriers, financial pressure and loneliness. More than 20 percent of the respondents said they have stayed single during their time abroad, and 60 percent are willing to endure the pain of separation from their partners for the duration of their studies. Only 16 percent have found other partners while away from home. Nearly 50 percent of respondents said that living abroad jeopardizes relationships formed in China. They hold that spending years in a foreign country can change a person’s outlook on life, and that even if a couple stays together, things are never quite the same when they are reunited. Some, however, believe that true love can defeat any challenge.

Returned overseas students bring many hi-tech projects home.

More than half of those questioned said that they valued new life experience over their academic achievements, and had no regrets. Nearly one third had doubts, but in the end, believed they had made the right choice. Only 2.9 percent regretted their decision to study abroad.

All respondents agreed that overseas study had changed them to a certain extent; 71.2 percent said the changes were behavioral, and 70.7 percent that they now held different values. Of the latter group, most thought these changes were for the better, and only 2.5 percent that they had a negative effect on their lives.

The Majority Returns Home

Nearly 90 percent of the respondents said they intend to return to China. Among them one third said they would come back upon graduation, while 50 percent said they would get some work experience before returning home. Most view coming home as a realistic rather than a patriotic choice. China’s rapidly expanding economy, coupled with various preferential policies that returnees enjoy, encourages students to pack their bags and head for home. Others come back simply to join their families, and live within a familiar culture. However, some factors, such as complicated interpersonal relations, China’s imperfect legal system and a relatively poor urban living environment, make some overseas students think twice before booking their plane tickets.

Gap Between Dreams and Reality

More than a third of students said they hoped to land jobs in Shanghai or Beijing upon their return to China. As for prospective employers, many had foreign companies in mind. Further down the list were universities, scientific research institutes, self-employment, international organizations and non-governmental organizations. Only a small proportion expressed a desire to work in government departments (3.5 percent) or state-owned enterprises (3.2 percent).

Since returning home, Li Dai has discovered that his overseas experience has by no means guaranteed landing an ideal job. Li wanted to find work with a foreign company, but eventually, had to settle for a job in a private educational institute. “Foreign companies in China don’t open their doors to us exclusively. Educational background is important, but experience is more important,” he explained.

China’s living standard is catching up with developed countries.

More than 20 percent of returnees have started their own businesses, predominately in the high-tech, consulting, educational and cultural sectors. This has not been easy, as they have had to adjust to the rules of the Chinese market and the domestic business culture. The overwhelming influence of interpersonal relations among the Chinese business community and the imperfect legal system are just two of the hurdles that aspiring business-owners must clear.

The increasing number of returned overseas students has diluted their competitive advantage in the job market. Although more than 71.3 percent managed to find work within 6 months of their return, 10.2 percent have remained unemployed for a year or more. Some have priced themselves out of the market, demanding higher salaries than their talents would warrant. Forty percent of those questioned said they would expect a monthly salary of no less than 10,000 yuan (US $1,200). There is thus a yawning gap between the dreams and reality. For some, added expectations and pressures from family and friends make the situation both stressful and frustrating.

(Thanks to China Youth Daily for the survey results)