Beijing Overseas Study Service Association BOSSA Beijing Overseas Study Service Association

About BOSSA BOSSA was founded on December 17th, 2004. BOSSA is under the direction of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of MOE and the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education. BOSSA assists the educational departments of Chinese government to set policies on overseas study in China and abroad, provides consultations and suggestions on governmental policies, and reinforces proper management and standards on the study abroad services industry. BOSSA is a non-profit independent organization that is devoted to promoting the development of domestic and international education. BOSSA is the only organization of its kind that is established and recognized by the Chinese government. BOSSA has a membership of 68 members, including 67 overseas study service agencies and one financial institution. BOSSA has established successful business relationships with more than 70 educational organizations and institutions around the world.

Organization Chart President/Vice President Advisors Executive Directors Secretary General Board of Directors Local Associations/Members Secretariat of BOSSA Study in China Office Employment Guidance Office International Office Information Center Exhibition Office International Training and Research Office Financial Department

Cooperative Institutions and Agencies Supervising Institutions: Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of Ministry of Education of PRC Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education Cooperating Institutions: Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (MOE) China Academic Degrees & Graduate Education Development Center (MOE) China Association for Foreign Student Affairs Culture, education and visa sections of foreign embassies in Beijing Overseas educational organizations and schools More than 600 domestic universities and colleges Members: 65 overseas study service agencies (legally licensed by MOE) Financial service agencies (banks, insurance companies) Overseas service and liaison agencies Educational HR centers, pioneering/venture parks for returned students

Role and Function Setting standards and monitoring operation Providing advice and recommendation for government’s policy-making Promoting exchange and collaboration with international partners

Chinese Students Studying Abroad The First Wave: Early 1950s when China’s new government sent students to study in Eastern Europe; The Second Wave: After 1978, with the Implementation of the "Reform and Opening Up" Policy, students start to study in Europe and America; The Third Wave: In mid and late 1990s when self-supporting students start to study abroad, and the destinations begin to spread all over the world. Source: MOE

Study Abroad Services in China Review and certification of overseas study service agents by the Chinese government in 2000 “Qualification License for Self-supporting Overseas Study Service Agent” issued by MOE By March 18th 2011, 419 agents have received “the license” from MOE, 65 of them are the members of BOSSA, accounts for 20% of the total.

Market Share of BOSSA’s Members Total Number of Chinese Students studying abroad in 2011: 339,700 Government scholarship: 12,800 Institutioinal scholarship: 121,000 Self-supporting students: 314,800 Students placed by BOSSA’s members: 155,000, accounting for 40% of the self-supported students.

The Existing Problems of the Overseas Study Market Outgoing Students: Lack of knowledge about higher education systems and academic resources in the country of destination: makes it difficul for students to apply for ideal colleges and universities; Unsatisfied service provided by the agents: exaggerated promotion, illegal charges of fees, mislead application; Lack of knowlede about application procedures: False application materials; Illegal agencies at home and abroad disrupting the market. Host Institutions: Unfamiliar with the Chinese market, difficult to establish sound collaboration with Chinese partners; Students get stranded abroad illegally, hold false academic certificates; Inability to restrict the illegal practices of the agents; “Runners” – high drop-out rate due to mismatch of information and expectations; Insufficient management on campus and insufficient guidance on employment. Returning Students: Problem of Employment: After the students return from abroad, they have trouble adjusting themselves to the domestic employment environment.

BOSSA’s Solutions for the Problems of the Overseas Study Market Based on the four principles of transparency, standard, fairness and authority, BOSSA will make use of the government, the media and its own publicity channels, and work jointly with foreign partners and foreign educational institutions to build a "Green Platform" for international education cooperation and exchanges. On-Line 网上出国留学申请系统 BOSSA 境外合作机构 境外教育机构 中国留学市场 会员机构 监管权威 操作权威 市场权威 申请公平 录取公平 监管公平 信息公开 流程公开 成果公开 统一组织 统一计划 统一工作 统一性原则 公开性原则 权威性原则 公正性原则

International Students in China As an important component of China’s educational undertakings, the number of international students studying in China has for the first time exceeded 290,000 in 2011. To put things in perspective, China accepted 33 foreign students from eastern Europe in 1950. These 292,611 students are from 194 countries around the world, and are now studying in 660 universities, colleges, research institutions and other educational organizations in China’s 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities (exclusive of Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao). Compared with 2010, the total number of foreign students studying in China has increased 27,521, an increase of 10.38%/year. Among them, the Chinese government-supported students increased 3,297, reaching 25,687, an increase of 14.73%/year, while the self-supported students increased 24,224, reached 266,924, an increase of 9.98%/year. The number of countries that send students to study abroad in China is the same as last year, but there are 40 more Chinese institutions who receive international students from abroad.

International Students in China Figures by regions and countries Sorted by regions: Asia - 187,871 ( 64.21%) Europe - 47,271 (16.15%) North and South America - 32,333 (11.05%) Africa - 20,744 (7.09%) Oceania – 4,392 (1.05%) Sorted by country, the top 10 places of origin are: South Korea (62,442), USA (23,292), Japan (17,961), Thailand (14,145), Vietnam (13,549), Russia (13,340), Indonesia (10,957), India (9,370), Pakistan (8,516) and Kazakhstan (8,287). In addition, the countries with the number of students coming to China exceeding 5,000 are France (7,592), Mongolia (7,112) and Germany (5,451).

International Students in China Figures by academic level and location Sorted by academic level: Undergraduates 88,461 (30%) Master’s degree students 23,453 (8%) Doctorate degree students 6,923 (2%) Non-degree students 173,774 (60%) Sorted by city/province: Beijing 54,060 Shanghai 35,980 Tianjin 12,109 Guangdong 10,024 Jiangsu 8,881 Other cities 170,000

Existing Problems in the “Study in China” Market Low enrollment number - though the number of foreign students studying in China is growing, it still can’t compare to the number of international students enrolled in other countries. Lack of marketing and promotion strategy – few universities use agents for recruitment Lack of trained and competent admission staff Lack of effective and sustainable exchange and cooperation with international institutions

BOSSA’s Solutions for the Problems of the “Study in China” Market Collaboration with more than 600 universities and colleges all over China Scholarship Programs from Chinese government, universities and colleges Application protection for all the degree and non-degree students The ability to develop short-term study in China programs (2-6 weeks, in 2-4 Chinese cities) Internship and employment programs for foreign students studying in China

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