Focus on UK investment immigration, focus on UK education:
According to a report by BBC News, UK media recently reported that following the footsteps of private schools, public schools in London will admit Chinese students for the first time, welcoming the first batch of five Chinese international students from Beijing this September.
Data shows that in 2012, there were 3,708 Chinese students enrolled in various private schools in the UK. Although this number is not significant compared to the large overall number of international students, the UK education sector generally believes this is a vast market.
The basis for this is that, in some cities in China, such as Beijing, Chinese nationals are prohibited from attending international schools, and parents generally believe that their children cannot access pure international education locally.
Furthermore, although schools in the United States also enjoy a good reputation internationally, UK private schools have a longer history. Chinese parents place more importance on the small class teaching habit here, believing that this model is more detailed and can better cultivate students' gentlemanly demeanor and noble character.
Currently, the biggest focus in the London education market is on successful Chinese businessmen. Prestigious institutions such as St. Paul's, Westminster, and Harrow do not need much marketing because various study abroad agencies in both the UK and China are actively promoting these famous private schools to parents.
The Rise of Public Schools
As the business of Chinese students in UK private schools becomes increasingly popular, public schools are also becoming more aware of the importance of this non-target customer group.
St Mary Magdalene Academy, located in Islington, London, was established in 2005. They were the first to establish a partnership with a school in Chongqing, China, and will welcome the first batch of five Chinese students from another partner school in Beijing this September to study the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.
Chinese parents will pay for their children's accommodation and will live with local host families in the UK.
Paul Hollingum, the principal of St Mary Magdalene Academy, stated: “Incorporating international courses as part of education is something we have always wanted to do. It is like placing local British students in China, where they can gain more information and knowledge about China, as well as cultural experiences.”
The UK education sector believes that the biggest attraction for Chinese students attending UK public schools is the opportunity to become future decision-makers in China. Although most Chinese students return to China after graduation, the connections established in the UK will be retained.
Feedback from Chinese parents also confirms the correctness of the UK education sector's judgment. A post circulating on Chinese Weibo represents the intentions of a considerable number of parents choosing UK schools: “I do not expect my child to get into a prestigious school; I just hope he can go to and from school by himself, not be afraid of strangers, that cars know to yield to pedestrians, not have to give gifts to teachers to curry favor, have blue skies and white clouds, drink clean water, breathe fresh air, and eat safe food. It’s that simple.”
Real Challenges
There is demand and supply, and everything seems logical, but Chinese students' enrollment in various high schools in the UK is still troubled by visa issues.
Statistics from March this year indicate that the number of Chinese students enrolling in UK schools has decreased by more than 20%. Another survey shows that Chinese students prefer to pursue higher education in immigration countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Dominic Luckett, the principal of Mill Hill School, publicly stated to UK media: “The serious delays in student visas have caused many students to pay but not start classes for four weeks because they have not received their visas.”
UK media also questions the contradictory policies of the coalition government. On one hand, they hope to attract the smartest and most outstanding students from around the world to study in the UK, while on the other hand, they aim to reduce net immigration to below 100,000 by 2015.
With the gradual relaxation of business visa policies for Chinese visitors to the UK, UK media has called for politicians to show the same enthusiasm for young people from China as they do for the country itself. Prime Minister Cameron should also recognize where the bright future lies.
