A number of Chinese universities are attracting foreign students, including from Pakistan by offering long and short terms courses besides scholarships.
Chinese delegates who participated in 17th International Education Exhibition, held here on April 4-5, 2007, told Business Recorder that education reforms initiated by the Pakistan government would encourage students to go abroad for specialised studies and in this regard China is offering attractive course plans in professional degrees.
They said that Pakistan's growing economy required skilled labour and professionals to compete in the world market. "We have designed curricula according to industrial requirements of the modern world," they added. About 26 members representing 20 Chinese universities participated in the exhibition and they attracted visitors for offering less fees and cheaper accommodation.
Ellen Liao, Deputy Head of International Recruitment Office, South China University of Technology said that the university is one of China's leading universities operating under the direct leadership of the Ministry of Education of China and one of 99 universities appointed to accept international students on Chinese government scholarships.
"The university offers three undergraduate programme with English instruction, including Computer Science and Technology, Food Science and Engineering, Electronic Business and Logistic Management," Liao said and added that all courses are delivered in English by qualified lecturers.
There are more than 400 international students from over 63 countries around the world in the university to study Chinese and Chinese culture, Liao said. Huang Hao, Deputy Director, Shanghai University said that foreign students were enjoying international quality education in China.
Hao said that Shanghai University started admissions of overseas students in 1966 and since then over 10,000 foreign students from 80 countries had studied there. "The university consist of 22 colleges and schools and one independent department offering 67 undergraduate majors, 131 master's degree programmes and 35 doctoral programmes," Hao said.
The College of International Exchange, Shanghai University, offers a variety of optional courses and special lectures for overseas students, such as General Information about China, Chinese Culture, Modern Economy of China, Chinese History, Chinese Folklore, Chinese Tourism, Chinese Newspapers and Magazines Reading, Calligraphy, Painting, Cooking etc.
A representative of Peking University said that the short-term programmes of the university for international students consist of two parts, Mandarin Training and China Studies. The majority of short-term programmes are co-operation programmes, which are organised jointly by Peking University and a foreign university or educational institution, the representative said.
Melike Tursuneli, Director, Central University for Nationalities, Beijing said that the institution is a special agency responsible for recruiting, teaching, managing and services to all international students. "The university offers scholarships to a portion of excellent international students, who study in regular degree programmes," Tursuneli said.
Wang Gang, Programme Officer, East China Normal University said that the university had begun to enrol international students since 1960 and had educated more than 10,000 international students, including both degree students and language learners. Gang said, "East China Normal University is a research university with an extensive range of disciplines, including education, social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, technologies and administrative sciences."