United States: Chinese students sustain varsity enrolments

The number of overseas students in the US is continuing to rise, with recent growth driven by a surge in recruitment from China. According to figures released in mid-November, the number of Chinese students in the US rose by 30 percent last year, an increase seen as evidence of growth in the Asian nations middle class and its appetite for higher education.The figures are detailed in an analysis of student movements between the US and the rest of the world, published by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The IIE, a non-profit body that helps administer the Fulbright international-exchange programme, publishes its Open Doors report annually with support from the US department of states bureau of educational and cultural affairs. In 2009-10, the number of overseas students enroled in US institutions rose by 2.9 percent to 690,923, the report shows. This is down from a 7.7 percent rise in 2008-09. IIE says that growth in 2009-10 was primarily driven by a 30 percent increase in Chinese student enrolment in the US to a total of nearly 128,000 students, making China leading exporter to the US academy. Peggy Blumenthal, chief operating officer at the IIE, says lower overall growth in the US intake is evidence of students financial concerns in light of the economic crisis. She adds that the increase in students coming from China, where economic growth has remained strong, stems from the countrys growing middle class, a growing desire for students to get the best education in the world. Many in China find there are not enough places in their own country that provide high-quality undergraduate education, she says. Allan Goodman, president of the IIE, highlights the broader significance of educational links between the US and Asia. China, India and South Korea account for 44 percent of all overseas students in the US. China and India, the worlds most populous countries with the fastest growing economies, are also the largest sources of overseas students in the UK. According to Dr. Goodman, the US educational links with the regions are going to be as significant in this century as the Silk Road was 1,000 years ago, pointing to the international backgrounds of recent US Nobel prize winners in the sciences as evidence. As to whether rapidly rising fees in many US institutions could act as a deterrent, Goodman says theres great diversity in charges. Moreover the option to attend community colleges early in their courses before moving on to university will become more popular with overseas undergraduates, he predicts. Untimely resignation One parent outside PS 58, a public school in Queens, was glad to see the back of Joel Klein, who in mid-November unexpectedly resigned as the citys schools chancellor to join Rupert Murdochs News Corp. But others appreciate how much he has improved New Yorks school system. When Klein took the job in 2002, graduation rates were low and test scores abysmal. Michael Bloomberg, the mayor who appointed him, said the system was in a state of emergency. Bloomberg…