CHINA has recently been in the news for all the ‘tainted' reasons. The country, however, is fast gaining popularity as an educational hub for overseas students. Students from Saudi Arabia - both Saudis and non-Saudis – are eyeing China as their academic destination. According to the Chinese Ministry of Education, China ranks fifth after the US, UK, France and Germany, with regards to hosting the highest number of overseas students in the world. Shaky law and order situations in the Subcontinent has led many expatriate parents from the South-Asian countries to turn to China as the next best place for their wards' education. Unlike in the West, China does not have a history of any racial discrimination. This year, Beijing hosted over 55,000 overseas students in August – the beginning of an academic year. They included 200 Saudis studying under the King Abdullah Scholarship and other scholarships of the government of China. The number excludes those studying in the country through private means, the figures of which are not known, said Yuan Yuan, Education Consul at the Embassy of China, Riyadh. He said over 1000 universities in China have registered overseas students and that Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are the most popular cities for foreign students. Universities in China have drawn around 1.23 million foreign students since economic reforms in the country were launched in the late 1970s. Last year, China received over190,000 overseas students from 188 countries. This was almost five times than that in 1997. Over 20,000 scholarships will be offered to international students in 2010 according to the government of China. Degrees of Chinese universities are accepted in many foreign countries. “All Chinese universities receiving overseas students have frequent links with foreign universities. Regular exchange programs, visits and scholarships are conducted,” Yuan said. He said several agreements of mutual recognition of diploma were signed with over 30 countries which include UK, France, US and other developed countries. Hamood Rehman, 20, a Pakistani student from Saudi Arabia, is studying mechanical engineering in the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA) in China. Founded in 2005, NUAA is affiliated to a UK university and has instructors from UK, Germany and China. “As it is a new university, NUAA has not yet acquired a strong international reputation but it issues certificates from UK and China,” Hamood said. English is the medium of instruction in most Chinese universities, while the native language Mandarin is also taught as a compulsory subject as part of the main course. “Language classes eliminate the communication barrier that we face as the Chinese are poor English speakers,” said Hamood. He said many factors prompted his parents to choose the, then, unfamiliar place for his education. “Affordability, visa availability, easy admissions and a stay at the 3-star hostels provided to international students in China are some benefits of studying here,” Hamood said. Yuan said the annual expenditure of studying in China can vary due to diverse fee structures of universities in different regions. “Generally, the annual expense is SR20, 000 ($5,400) inclusive of the tuition fee and accommodation,” he said. Hamood said he pays SR9,600 ($2,560) annually which includes his tuition fee, hostel rent and course material. “The annual expense is further subsidized based on our academic performance,” he said. The China Scholarship Council (CSC) has increased the living subsidy of overseas students in 2008 up to 1400 Yuan (approx. SR700) per month. Mahreen, 21, who completed her schooling in Jeddah, chose China over her native land - Pakistan - for pursuing higher studies in medicine. She said, “Studies here are good, quality wise, and are worth the money we spend on it.” She said her yearly expenditure inclusive of the airfare is USD4000 to USD5000 (approx. SR15,000 to SR18, 800). “What encouraged me to study here is the fine integration of technology in the education system. Also, the well equipped laboratories allow every student to check the biological specimens individually which otherwise would not have been possible in Pakistan,” said Mahreen, who is studying in the Xin Jiang Medical University in the Urumqi City of China. She said her friend and a cousin studying in China further encouraged her decision to study in China. “It is a safe place,” Mahreen added. Hamood and Mahreen said that finding Halal food in China is not a problem. “Many restaurants serving Halal food have come up around hostels and university campuses,” Hamood said. Mahreen estimated that there were 120 Pakistani students from the Middle East in her batch. “The number of international students in NUAA is on the rise. This year the university registered about fifty students from Nepal, ninety from India, sixty from Indonesia, sixteen from Pakistan and five from Germany,” Hamood said. “Life is amazing here, easy, affordable and challenging,” he added. However, the transition faced by students going from a closed society like that in the Kingdom may be large and may require adjustments to more than just the language. “Self-regulation is a must for youngsters. Then only they will be able to live in the liberal society of China,” said Inam Ur Rahman, Hamood's father. Indeed, it was the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) who had said a millennium and a half ago, “Acquire knowledge, even if you have to travel to China.” __
