英文阅读："your multiple choices"
Brendan John WorrellHundreds of universities and colleges from all over the world set up shop
over the weekend in Beijing's exhibition center to try and capture some of the
bright sparks leaping out of China's education system.
Now in its eighth year, it resembled a dress rehearsal for the Olympics
opening ceremony with flags from all corners of the globe waving proudly.
Provider nations compete in the study abroad Olympics
Of note at this year's annual expo was the twinning of the event with The
European Higher Education Fair - an initiative of the European Commission,
coinciding with the announcement of an increased investment of 230 million euros
($327 US million) to be spent over the next two years on their Erasmus Mundus
scholarship program.
At a government level strengthening a nation's workplace capacity - via the
addition of highly skilled overseas workers - is a challenge. As such,luring
bright, hardworking Chinese students and then offering them work visas with an
eye to future citizenship, is a practical solution to the lack of homegrown
talent, particularly in the science, IT, engineering and accounting fields.
The American Council on Education mentioned with concern a year ago that
Australia, Japan and the EU were beginning to pull increasing numbers of these
'overseas Einsteins' compared to the US.
One assumes that the new president who walks into the White House may wish
to reverse this trend. It would appear that while recently US visa regulations
had relaxed in an effort to try and encourage more international students to
return, it was too little too late.
Just this week we saw Jan Figel, the European Commissioner for Education,
Training and Youth declare that more Chinese students were choosing Europe -
overtaking the US as a preferred destination. Looking around at the expo you
could feel it, this fragmented state of American higher education.
On the outer, the Australian presence certainly featured prominently under
that nation's Education International umbrella and Study in Australia brand.
Under the Howard Government new departments have been set up in an effort to
streamline services and improve access and quality for overseas students and
their providers- something the US could learn from and something the EU is in
part trying to replicate.
This strategy addresses all ends of the chain from education agent
certification, to institution quality control, to the consensus on and support
for the IELTS testing system. It goes further also offering pathways to
Vocational education, e.g. training in nursing and hospitality and then provides
gateways to Higher Education at university.
What drew my attention was a stall by Fairhills High school in Knox,
Melbourne, Victoria aimed at the senior high school market. I spoke to Karen
that school's assistant Dean and she informed me that there were many advantages
for parents sending a teenager to Australia at this age in terms of assimilation
into the culture, language acquisition and attainment of an internationally
recognized tertiary entrance score.
Karen from Knoxhill, Victoria speaking of the benefits of senior high
school attendance
Elsewhere, away from the more prestigious well known booths the visitor at
the expo could get information about study in Argentina, Japan, New Zealand,
Singapore, Russia, Malaysia, Korea, the Philippines, India, Puerto Rico,
Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.
The price for a standard 3m X 3m booth was RMB 20,000 and once you factor
in the cost of flight, hotels, interpreters etc can be a bit restrictive for
smaller, regional destinations that while being less famous, may actually offer
the Chinese student a more fulfilling and unique experience.
My advice for parents and prospective students is to be creative and
adventurous, look beyond the common and what you may find is a place that fully
immerses you in the culture, gives you part time work opportunities and local
friends that provide connections for life.
A young student I met called Slim said precisely that. He chose Spain
because he believed so few people particularly Chinese were previously going
there to study. When I asked if he could speak Spanish he said no, and for many
this isn't a problem because a lot of overseas campuses are now offering courses
in English.
Looking around at the event you could see many worried and exhausted
parents. I spoke to Mr. Wang by the coffee shop who informed me his son was
interested in studying abroad and the destination wasn't a major concern. He
felt it was a credible option for enhancing his son's future and he was willing
to support him whilst overseas, wherever.
At the doorway of a life determining decision, a student ponder the
future
If I was 18 or 21 with so much on offer, and given the choice to study
abroad, I am not sure I would be able to decide. Thinking back to the slogan of
the event, "your multiple choices", I was reminded of what advice my teacher
used to give when confronted by a question that you had no idea of answering
confidently. "Just close your eyes, twirl your pen and whatever it lands on
then, well, that's your answer."
Who knows, how many students from affluent Chinese families today are
making such decisions when it comes to study abroad? Though with the help of
events like this weekend's expo at least they'll have some knowledge of the
place when they get there.
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set up shop – create a stall or presence to sell something
bright spark – an intelligent person
dress rehearsal – a practice demonstration for the real event
luring, to lure (vb.) – try to catch, try to get, e.g. the spider lured the
fly into its web
with an eye to – looking to or thinking about the future, eg. With an eye
to the 2008 Olympics, Brendan started running every morning preparing for the
marathon event.
affluent – rich, wealthy.
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