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International students are offered various subjects at Chinese institutions of higher learning, including literature, medicine, economics, management, engineering, law, education, natural science, history, philosophy and agriculture. Although Mandarin, literature and medicine remain the hottest choices, enrollment in natural science, engineering, economics and management has also seen sharp growth in recent years.

Marc, a Swede, majored in business management in his home country. In September 2010 he started to take International Business Management at the International Business School of BFSU. “China’s economy is growing at an amazing speed. I really want to know how its people make it. Also I want to understand Chinese people’s way of thinking. That’s why I came to China for this program,” he says. Many foreign students coming to China share his motives.

Indeed, the rise of China has drawn the attention of more and more foreigners. As the dramatic increase in those choosing subjects such as international relations, international politics and economic management demonstrates, they want to understand China’s political system and economic development. Dr. Tian Chenshan currently teaches in Peking University and BFSU, covering topics in Chinese culture, media, government, politics, and comparative foreign policy. He tells China Today that his students are quite interested in all these courses and discussions often carry on beyond class time to compare what they have learned to the actual conditions they are experiencing here.

Foreign students coming to China understand that mastering the language is not enough to become a competitive international talent. Besides language, they take a second academic concentration. Zhang Xiuqin, director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the MOE, says: “The quality of China’s higher education is steadily improving and receiving wider recognition around the world. China currently has mutual recognition agreements for degrees with 34 countries and regions in the world.”

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China’s heated economy has also attracted more and more multinationals to set up branches in China. Talent with an international perspective is in demand. The vigorous and promising Chinese society offers countless opportunities to foreign students, and they believe that China’s huge market potential will continue to provide plenty of room for them to develop their talents to the fullest.

Sumit Bansal’s brother is doing business in India selling imported Chinese shoes. “I think I could earn more money than my brother if I understood Chinese,” says Sumit. Sumit was studying business management in an Indian college but chose to complete his studies in China. He says that he wants to do business, most likely with China, after graduation.

“More and more Indians want to study in China because they believe China offers better opportunities than the U.S. or our homeland,” says Binod Singh. Binod is teaching Hindi in BFSU. He also works with the Indian government to bring young people to China to study. “Students at business schools in India normally have a three-month internship, during which most of them elect to come to China if possible. I help them with applications to Chinese universities. Their understanding of China will be useful in the future,” says Binod.

With deepening exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries in fields that govern the economy, trade, travel and media, the demand for employees who can speak Chinese is rising. International students are becoming pragmatic – they come to study in China not just out of idle interest in the country, but because they see the scope that China’s fast economic growth provides for developing their talent.