Canada is top college choice of Chinese at foreign high schools

Canada is the most popular destination for Chinese students pursuing a high school education overseas, but the United States is catching up, a survey has found.

Between 2007 and 2014, 31.85 percent of Chinese students attending high school abroad went to Canada, according to the Annual Report on the Development of Chinese Students Studying Abroad. The figure for the US is 30.58 percent.

The 2014 report was released on Thursday by the Center for China and Globalization think tank.

Citing statistics from the Education International Cooperation Group, an overseas study consultancy operating in China, the report said four countries－Canada, the US, Australia and the United Kingdom－attracted 90 percent of all Chinese high school students who went overseas in the past seven years.

Miao Lyu, deputy secretary-general of CCG, said Canada's popularity is the result of a visa policy that allows multiple visits during a 10-year period.

"Chinese parents have concerns about young kids studying abroad by themselves, and often ask to move together with their children to take care of them," Miao said. "Canada's 10-year visa enables them to do so easily and conveniently."

Li Peng, deputy general manager of Kentrexs Education Group, which arranges for young Chinese to study overseas, said the US is becoming more popular.

A previous New York Times report said that from 2003 to 2013, the number of Chinese students studying at high schools in the US increased from 433 to 26,919.

"We anticipate that the US will receive more Chinese high school students because of its elite education services and its new visa policy for Chinese students, visitors and businesspeople," Li said.

The survey found that male Chinese high school students prefer to study in the US, while Canada is the top choice for females.

Miao said the difference reflected the different ways the countries are perceived by Chinese parents.

"Canada is more peaceful and safe in the eyes of Chinese people, from its learning environment to the social situation, and parents like their girls to live and study in such environments," she said.

"In contrast, many Chinese people believe the US is a country where you need energy to strive and create, and that is suitable for boys."

NEW US STUDY FELLOWSHIP ANNOUNCED

China and the United States launched a new fellowship initiative on Wednesday to help mid-career US professionals study in China.

The initiative, known as the Zhi-Xing China-Perfect World US-China Young Leaders Fellowships, aims to sponsor 15 to 20 US professionals who are interested in Chinese culture and China-related work to visit and study in China every year through 2024.

During their stay in China, fellows are expected to gain a deeper understanding of China and US-China bilateral relations through meetings, visits and cultural activities.

The initiative is one of the latest additions to the programs under the US-China High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, or CPE, which aims to strengthen ties between Chinese and US citizens in areas including education, culture and science.

"Under the CPE framework, nearly 200 robust outcomes and deliverables have been implemented over the past five years," said Chinese Vice-Minister of Education Hao Ping, who is also the CPE China Coordinator.

One of the best ways to invest in the next generation of leaders is to develop language and cultural skills through study abroad, said Carola McGiffert, president of the 100,000 Strong Foundation, one of the partners of the initiative.

She added that the US could do more to make sure that young US citizens have the cultural understanding and China skills to compete, collaborate and succeed in a world where China plays a huge and growing role.

Perfect World, a leading Chinese online game developer and operator, has pledged to support the fellowship through the next decade.

Given the importance of bilateral ties, the public and private sectors of both countries, and the cultural industry in particular, should show greater support for US-China people-to-people exchanges, said Robert Xiao, Perfect World's CEO.

"I believe such efforts will foster fresh ideas, deeper understanding, and new ways of cooperation between us," said Xiao, adding that the new initiative is an important extension of exchanges between the younger generations in the US and China.

The initiative is implemented by the China Education Association for International Exchange, in partnership with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the Humpty Dumpty Institute, 100K Strong Foundation and Perfect World.