International Student Mobility –Factors Influencing Motivation to Study Abroad Dr inż. Grażyna Rembielak, Ms Xiang Li, Prof. John Wilson 26.10.2017 Shanghai China

Content Aim of the study Context Methodology Findings Conclusions

Aim of the study The aim of this paper is to explore students’ motivation for studying abroad and specifically in China

Context Increasing number of students making their decision to study in higher education institutions (HEIs) worldwide every year, not at least to China

Global market share of internationally mobile students for leading study destinations, 2001 and 2016.

China – educational context, 1978 2015 Regular HEIs 598 2560 No. of FT academics 206,000 1,573,000 No of UG entrants in regular HEIs 402,000 7,378,495 No of students studying abroad 860 523,700 Table 1 Higher Education 1978 – 2015: Illustrative Statistics Source: National Bureau of Statistics China 2016 Tables 21-5, 21-7, 21-10 http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2016/indexeh.htm

  2014 2015 2016 Total Number 377,054 397,635 442,773 Increase number from previous year 20,555 20,581 45,138 Increase % from previous year 5.7 5.5 11.4 Number on long-term study seeking formal award (% of total) 164,394 (44) 184,799 (46) 209,966 (47) Number on short-term study (% of total) 212,660 (56) 212,836 (54) 232,807 (53) Total 377,054 (100) 397,635 (100) 442,773 (100) Of total number on long-term study, number on Masters/PhD 47,990 (Masters = 35,876) (PhD = 12,114) 53,572 (Masters = 39,205) (PhD = 14,367) 63,867 (Masters = 45,816) (PhD = 18,051) % Increase from previous year 18.2 11.6 19.2 Number of originating countries 203 202 205

International students in China: top 15 countries of origin 2014 2015 2016 Rank Country Number 1 Republic of Korea 62,923 66,672 70,540 2 United States 24,203 21,975 23,838 3 Thailand 21,296 19,976 23,044 4 Russia 17,202 India 16,694 Pakistan 18,626 5 Japan 15,057 16,197 18,177 6 Indonesia 13,689 15,654 17,971 7 13,578 14,085 14,714 8 13,360 Kazakhstan 13,198 13,996 9 11,764 12,694 13,595 10 France 10,729 10,436 Vietnam 10,639 11 10,658 10,031 10,414 12 Germany 8,193 7,536 Laos 9,907 13 Mongolia 7,920 7,428 8,508 14 Malaysia 6,645 6,918 8,145 15 United Kingdom 5,920 6,650 6,880   Other 139,917 151,491 173,779 Total 377,054 397,635 442,773

2014 2015 2016 Top 10 Chinese destination cities/provinces (% of total) Beijing Shanghai Tianjin Jiangsu Zhejiang Guangdong Liaoning Shandong Hubei Heilongjiang 74,342 55,911 25,270 23,209 22,190 21,298 21,010 17,896 15,839 12,056   73,779 55,218 25,658 25,489 25,411 23,015 22,784 17,903 17,670 12,085 Yunnan 77,234 59,887 32,228 30,108 26,564 25,273 24,605 19,829 19,263 14,925

Methodology Exploratory Study Questionnaire and Survey Postgraduate International Students Branch Campus in Shanghai

Findings

The Programmes of study in China

Nationality

Other countries you have studied or worked Country Singapore USA Mexico Spain UK New Zealand Germany Switzerland South Korea Brazil Austria France Hungary Russia Luxemburg Israel Philippines Australia Chile Canada

How is the cost of your study being financed

Intention to work in another country other than China or home country

Please evaluate the following motivations for your decision to study in China/Shanghai Motivations for decision to study in China/Shanghai   % 1 2 3 4 5 To gain status among peers/friends 19 15 39 12 To become more employable - 27 57 To experience a different place 84 To have an opportunity to live in China/Shanghai 31 46 To have an opportunity to study in China/Shanghai 38 To study with people from all over the world To get a different study experience than in my country 54 To experience different teaching and learning methods 8 35 23 To enhance my English language skill 34 To enhance my Chinese language skill To deepen my knowledge about Chinese culture

Influences on decision to study your particular Masters Programme   % 1 2 3 4 5 Recommendation of someone who studied similar Programme 19 - 27 15 Programme Fee 42 12 Position of this Programme in Masters rankings 23 Accreditations of the Programme 8 35 Conversation with university agents representative Open Day 43 38 Information materials from the website of my chosen university 50 Ease of the application process 30 Speed of response to application 31 Timetable 46 Generally attractive Programme Balance in the syllabus between practical and theoretical issues Programme in English 16

Importance of the factors in influencing your Shanghai experience – OTHER   % 1 2 3 4 5 Eating places at university 19 32 15 Eating places around university 8 11 58 Making friends from the country 31 38 Making friends from all over the world 35 Making good contacts for the future - 12 42 Surroundings outside the school 26 Distance to the school 27 16 Availability of public transport to school 50 Parking facilities at university Security/safety conditions at university 46 Facilities for religious worship Cost of living (food, drink, transport, social) Cost of accommodation Programme fee Transport links to other places Proximity of an airport 24 Sports facilities 23 University clubs and societies 20 Social attractions offered by the city 39

Conclusions The reasons why the researched international students chose to study in China: The perceived level of personal safety in China A relatively low cost of living in China; Willingness to experience Chinese culture; To investigate new opportunities in China in the future; To visit and Asian country; To have an opportunity to live in China/Shanghai; To experience a different place; To enhance their language skills.

Thank you