Reputation Meets Opportunity

Since completing my first degree ten years ago in China, where I am from, I have worked in the field of UK higher education. I received my MPhil from the University of Southampton and finished my PhD at Birmingham City University, where I used to work. My research is mostly around creative higher education and student mobility. I am the Director of International Studies at the University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, which involves international student recruitment and collaborations, as well as on-campus support for international students. I have been involved in a number of collaborative programs mostly around creative disciplines—fashion, graphics, interior design, digital media, visual communication—with approximately 50 universities in China such as Xiamen University, Wuhan Textile University and Dalian Polytechnic University, centered on two models transnational education, where the UK degree is fully or partially fulfilled in China; and progression agreement, where half of the UK degree is completed in China. Prior to my current role, that I’ve held for three years and in which I also supervise PhD students, I was Assistant Dean for Academics and ran UCA’s overseas campus in China with 1000 students in graphic design, digital media, and interior architecture.

My current role is interesting because the university had not done much international work previously. It was only four years ago, after the new Vice Chancellor joined and initiated internationalization strategies for the university, that my position and the whole department were created.

In terms of higher education, the communication is much better. China has been quite open to collaborations with the UK so that UK degrees are fully run in China, and Chinese students are encouraged to go abroad. The Ministry of Education is really encouraging. The Chinese government also set up initiatives to support staff exchange. Every year thousands of staff travel to see how teaching is done in the UK, be visiting scholars, or further their study. This relates to the economy. Even though there has been a slow-down lately it is getting better, and more people can afford to study in the UK. In big cities in China there are large fashion events that provide a platform for idea exchange.

When I was an undergraduate student in China, there were thirty students in my class. It was a very good university and only one or two studied abroad, and one went to Japan. Now, around 10% do their master's degree abroad. Ten years ago, fewer students chose to do creative subjects. However, following the Chinese government’s initiative and investment in promoting the cultural and creative industries, we have witnessed a massive boom in the creative disciplines.

The way creative disciplines are taught in China is similar to other humanities subjects, with students copying the teacher who makes sure their concepts are correct, teaching one skill at a time. The skills and knowledge are generally quite segmented. The students are not taught the whole process of creating something – producing a garment, for instance. Students learn, step by step, but maybe when they reach the end, they might have forgotten the first step. There is limited encouragement to be different.

How does this different way of learning and teaching challenge Chinese students? As a result, how are Chinese students perceived within the creative industries in the UK?

Why would a Chinese student choose the UK, instead of France or the US?

Would you say this is because the French system relies less on international money, whereas in the UK the financial question is huge?

A lot of students from China would choose to study due to a country’s reputation, but the UK has built that reputation on economic grounds mostly.

Obviously the pandemic has had an impact, limiting how many students can come to the UK to study.

In China there is a decrease, but it is relatively small. However, even with the pandemic we attract students from South Asia, India, and Bangladesh. Because of the new UK government’s policy on graduate routes, after they graduate they can work in the UK for two years. So, this has created a new trend.

I feel very optimistic that the UK will be more welcoming toward Chinese students. Unlike the South Asian students who go to China and want to stay, Chinese students just want to go to the UK to study and then return home to pursue their careers. The economy is getting better in China, and more students are able to speak better English, even than five years ago, which will help with integration in the UK and make them comfortable and feel they are part of the community. Nowadays, they are more individualist, so they are more confident in presenting their own opinions and ideas.

The majority will want to go back to China where there are more opportunities.

Recently Chinese governments have expanded the postgraduate provisions in China to encourage more students to stay. However, most students or families aren’t able to afford to study abroad, and just want to have a different experience. The Chinese government wants to keep students in China, but it is unlikely to reduce the number who want to go abroad.