[photopress:mba_abroad.jpg,full,alignright]According to a new online survey more than 80% of university students in China want to study abroad. These sorts of surveys were ever a bit iffy in that, almost by definition, they are loaded. If you asked the question how many want a date with, to chose a name at random, Britney Spears, you would get a higher percentage. (That is among the male students.)
People may respond to a survey with answers from the dream time. Asked if they would like to win a lottery and a lot of money you would get better figures. But they do not mean that such wishes will be put into practice.
The survey, conducted by the China Youth Daily involved 2,400 university students and showed that 42% of respondents believe an overseas education will be beneficial to their future career development.
And probably 90% felt that going to Harvard or Yale would help.
He He, a student at Sichuan University said, ‘The CEOs of Nasdaq-listed Baidu and Sohu both received an overseas education.’ He added the variety of majors offered by universities abroad was a significant factor. He did not mention that the grass is always greener on the other side.
Mao Tingting, who works for an agency that arranges overseas study for Chinese students, said students were attracted by the handsome scholarships on offer and better job prospects.
Mao Tingting also says China’s present five to 10% growth in university enrolment makes graduates’ job prospects gloomier. But, of course, that view is biased.
The survey also showed the favorite destinations for overseas study were the United States, Britain, France, Australia and Canada which seems very likely.
Statistics from the Ministry of Education showed that in 2006 more than 130,000 Chinese went abroad for further study.
To cope with the trend, China’s National Education Examinations Authority recently announced it would offer 100,000 online TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) seats in 2008 to residents of the Chinese mainland, up 80% on the figure in 2007.
Source: People’s Online Daily