US Universities Facing Financial Concerns Conduct Fall Semester Education in China
Professors in US Mainland, Students Attend Remote Classes in China
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Some American universities are making every effort to attract Chinese international students by operating local education programs in China.
The Chinese state-run Global Times reported on the 4th that some American universities are preparing local education programs in China ahead of the fall semester to attract Chinese international students.
Due to the difficulty of obtaining study visas amid US-China tensions and the increasing reluctance of Chinese students to enter the US because of the spread of COVID-19, the Global Times reported that these universities have created local education programs as a desperate measure.
The newspaper added that major American universities such as New York University, Pennsylvania State University, Cornell University, Duke University, Syracuse University, and the University of Pittsburgh are currently operating local education programs in China.
In fact, New York University has prepared a program called "Go Local" to attract international students.
The university plans to enroll about 2,300 Chinese undergraduates and 800 graduate students and start lectures at its Shanghai campus. The core of this program is that professors from the US mainland deliver lectures online to Chinese students. Separate classrooms are also provided for them.
The Global Times reported that Pennsylvania State University will offer a 17-week academic program for new Chinese students starting this fall semester. This program is also conducted through remote classes. Professors lecture from classrooms in the US, while students attend classes in classrooms in China.
Roger Brindley, Deputy Director of Global Programs at Pennsylvania State University, explained the reason for establishing the local education program, saying, "Due to the spread of COVID-19, the number of Chinese international students is inevitably decreasing, and with the closure of the consulate general, Chinese students will not be able to obtain visas on time."
The Global Times reported that American universities are seeking to attract Chinese international students because they constitute a significant portion of university finances.
According to the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA), international students contributed $41 billion (approximately 49 trillion KRW) to the US economy in the 2018-2019 academic year. Chinese students accounted for more than 30% of this contribution.
In fact, in the 2018-2019 academic year, there were 369,548 Chinese international students, making up 33.7% of all international students. If the number of Chinese students decreases, it inevitably causes financial problems for American universities.
The Global Times said it is uncertain whether many Chinese students will apply for the local education programs of American universities. It explained that Chinese students are likely to think that these are no different from online classes.
Ji Hong, a research fellow at the Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "The decrease in Chinese international students is inevitable due to the spread of COVID-19 and the Trump administration's unfriendly policies toward China. However, from the perspective of American universities, Chinese students are like big spenders." He added, "American universities are setting the fees for local education programs in China at the same level as those in the US mainland, which could increase student dissatisfaction."
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