[Big read] Asian students abroad: Why more of them are staying in Asia
As Western countries such as Australia and Canada are tightening regulations on international students, Asian students are feeling the impact and choosing to study in universities in Asia. Even then, challenges abound, with young people having to deal with issues of xenophobia and difficulties with integrating.
Traditionally, international students from the East travel to the West to study overseas, but in recent years, a growing number of Asian students are choosing countries in the region for their overseas studies instead.
Singaporean student Kua Hui Yee, 27, said, “Since Western cultures do not resonate with me, I decided to stay in Asia for further studies.”
Out of practical considerations, she eventually chose to study mass communication in South Korea. In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao, Kua shared, “My parents were more concerned about the distance and cost of studying abroad. They originally wanted me to remain in Singapore to study as they didn’t want me to be too far away from home, but Hanyang University reduced my tuition by half, so they agreed.”
Lee Sheng Kiat, a 25-year-old Singaporean who graduated from Tsinghua University in China with a degree in economics and finance, told Lianhe Zaobao, “Although universities in Europe and the US are stronger in innovation, their students spend lesser time on studies, and there is a greater focus on new experiences and enjoying life. I decided to study in China because I think university is a time to lay a solid foundation and I hope to focus more on my studies.”
China received 114,112 foreign students last year, an increase of 21.86% year-on-year. As of May 2023, Japan has 279,274 overseas students, a year-on-year increase of 20.8%.
In a Lianhe Zaobao interview, Yvette Ortega, a 24-year-old Singaporean senior at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, said, “As I am their only daughter, my parents are very concerned about my safety. I did consider studying in London, but felt that my parents would be more at ease if I went to Japan instead. Besides, the tuition is cheaper here and the university also provides many scholarships.”
More international students in China, Japan and South Korea
According to data released by the South Korean Ministry of Education, the country received 181,842 international students last year, an increase of about 9% from 2022.
The South Korean government plans to attract 300,000 international students by 2027 and is trying to do so by offering more scholarships, simplifying student visa procedures, and increasing the proportion of courses taught in English.
Over in China and Japan, the number of international students is also growing each year. According to official figures, China received 114,112 foreign students last year, an increase of 21.86% year-on-year. As of May 2023, Japan has 279,274 overseas students, a year-on-year increase of 20.8%.
Jazreel Goh, British Council country director for Malaysia, told Lianhe Zaobao that the conventional path of students from the East heading to Western countries for an overseas education is changing significantly. Taking Chinese students as an example, she said that Asian countries and regions such as Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong are becoming increasingly popular study destinations for them. This is not only due to the rise in the quality of education in Asia, but also related to the tightening of student visa regulations in certain traditional study destinations in the West.
In its report on shifting global student demand, Asian digital marketing platform Sinorbis said as the quality of higher education in Asian countries improves and regional cooperation strengthens, Asian students increasingly choose to study in neighbouring countries rather than head all the way to the West. Its figures show that between 2020 and 2023, the number of Chinese students who chose to study in Malaysia tripled from 8,876 to 26,507.
Icef Monitor, a market intelligence agency for international education, pointed out that the competitive advantages of Asia educational institutions include lower overseas education expenses, greater cultural similarity, and governmental support.
According to the World University Rankings announced by Times Higher Education in May, the number of top universities in Asia increased from 28 in 2023 to 33 this year, with those from China, Japan, and South Korea performing particularly well, further enhancing these countries’ standing in international education.
“Singaporeans like to spell their requirements out clearly in black and white, while unwritten rules are the norm in China. Very often, it is only when we are all set to do something that we find many things cannot be done.” — Ng Chew Yee, a Singaporean PhD student at Tsinghua University
Wu Mei, a 28-year-old from Kyrgyzstan, just graduated from the Renmin University of China in June. She told Lianhe Zaobao, “My parents have plenty of confidence in China’s higher education system, so they encouraged me to study in Beijing. During my university days, other than the challenge of switching to a new field of studies for my master’s degree, I adapted well in other aspects and made many local friends.”
Cross-cultural obstacles despite cultural similarity
Even though overseas studies destinations in Asia are more culturally similar to their home countries, Asian students still encounter cultural challenges in assimilating.
To communicate seamlessly, Hanyang University’s Kua spent a lot of time learning the Korean language before heading to South Korea. But she said frankly that despite spending six years studying in Seoul, she was unable to blend in with the local students. Instead, she become good friends with her classmates from China, Malaysia and Thailand.
“It seems that there’s a strong sense of national pride in Korea, which can sometimes make people more reserved or hesitant around foreigners. For example, I recall an instance when local students requested to work independently on a group project, expressing a preference to collaborate only with fellow Koreans rather than with foreign students.”
Ng Chew Yee, a PhD student at Tsinghua University, told Lianhe Zaobao, “Although I didn’t face any communication barriers, I observed that the working styles in Singapore and China are very different. Singaporeans like to spell their requirements out clearly in black and white, while unwritten rules are the norm in China. Very often, it is only when we are all set to do something that we find many things cannot be done.”
Ritsumeikan University’s Ortega added, “I’ve observed that Japanese people can be more reserved in their interpersonal relationships. As a foreigner, it often takes time and effort to build a closer connection before forming friendships.”
Affordability and employment prospects top considerations
It is worth noting that although Asian universities are becoming more popular, English-speaking countries such as the US, the UK and Australia are still the overseas studies destinations for most Asian students. According to data from UNESCO, Indonesian students prefer to study in Australia, followed by Malaysia, the US, Japan and the UK. On the other hand, Malaysian students are most interested in the UK, Australia and the US.
This means that Asian countries still face many challenges in competing with traditional overseas education destinations. How can they stand out?
Su Su, senior project consultant for China at international market research and consulting agency Bonard, pointed out that international students and their parents are now paying closer attention to their return on investment in education. She explained, “When choosing a school, parents will consider tuition affordability and employment prospects. At the same time, they also look at internship opportunities provided by local companies.”
While some international students choose to return home after graduation, others stay to develop their careers. So, the employment prospects in host countries might also affect some students’ choice of destination for an overseas education.
Although South Korea has attracted a large number of international students, it is still grappling with the thorny issue of unemployment after graduation. In March, its JoongAng newspaper, quoting data from the Korean Educational Development Institute, reported that among the 27,321 international students who graduated from the country’s universities or vocational colleges in 2023, only 8.2% found work in South Korea.
Originally, Hanyang University’s Kua wanted to remain in South Korea to gain some working experience, but she decided to return to Singapore in the end. She explained, “Employment prospects in South Korea can be challenging, especially for media majors, who may not have a significant advantage in the job market. As a result, it might take a considerable amount of time to secure the remuneration package I’m aiming for.”
“Most of my fellow countrymen did not manage to find jobs, except in areas like translation or education, so most of them left.” — Kyrgyzstan national Wu Mei who studied in China
China faces a similar challenge. The unemployment data for July released by its National Bureau of Statistics recently showed that urban unemployment rate for those aged 16 to 24 (excluding students) was 17.1%, a significant increase from the 13.2% in June.
Kyrgyzstan national Wu Mei is one of the few international students who managed to find a job in China after graduation; she now works as a sales manager at a local company. She said, “Most of my fellow countrymen did not manage to find jobs, except in areas like translation or education, so most of them left.”
International students are an important source of talent for both host countries and countries of origin. Francois Crepeau, a McGill University law professor and former UN Special Rapporteur on migration, told Lianhe Zaobao that host countries need to provide international students with sufficient employment opportunities, residency support, and the conditions for starting a family so that they stay on after graduation and eventually become naturalised citizens.
Conversely, if students’ home countries offer appealing job prospects and favourable conditions, they may choose to return. He added, “Having a range of options is an important step forward for a country’s development policies.”
Experts: international students made scapegoats for domestic troubles
As anti-immigration sentiments gain traction in Europe and the US, Western politicians have increasingly used slogans such as “Prioritise citizens” and “Immigrants are the source of crime” to advocate for stricter immigration policies. Experts argue that international students frequently become scapegoats in these misleading political narratives, serving as a distraction from deeper structural issues like economic downturns and underemployment.
In response to such anti-immigration sentiments, the Canadian government announced a two-year cap on international student visas. This year, it only issued 360,000 study permits to international students, 35% less than in 2023.
Australia has also taken a number of measures, including raising the minimum English proficiency requirements for international students, shortening the temporary visa period for graduates to remain in Australia from five to two years, and increasing the international student visa fee from A$710 (US$543.60) to A$1,600.
... the number of international student visas issued by the UK, Canada and Australia fell by 20% to 30% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2023.
Fewer international student visas issued in 1Q2024
Over in the UK, international students are no longer allowed to bring their families along with them, except for postgraduate students and those on government scholarships. British Council’s Goh pointed out that this has little impact on international students enrolled in undergraduate courses there, especially students from Singapore and Malaysia, because they usually do not bring their families along with them.
However, the impact of these tightening measures has begun to show. According to data from global education services company, IDP Education, the number of international student visas issued by the UK, Canada and Australia fell by 20% to 30% in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2023.
Andrew Norton, a professor of higher education policy practice at the Australian National University, told Lianhe Zaobao, “Students are the easiest group to control in terms of numbers, that’s why they’re number one on the chopping list, and universities aren’t particularly powerful constituencies so they’re probably also a reasonable political target.”
Norton also said that a tightening of student visa regulations by the Australian government would have serious consequences for Australian education providers. “International students are a major source of revenue. Total fee revenue in 2023 was A$17.1 billion. Other Australian businesses that rely on international students as workers or customers will also suffer.”
Using immigration issues for near-term election goals
In an interview with Lianhe Zaobao, Amitendu Palit, a senior research fellow at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Institute of South Asian Studies, said, “Tighter immigration policies are arising due to economic and political factors in host countries. The economic factors include growing difficulties for host countries in providing social security support to their residents. More immigration will put more pressure on government finances. The political factors include stronger emergence of anti-immigration political parties in the mainstream governments of these countries, with such parties belonging to the Far Right that are traditionally anti-immigration.”
Taking a historical perspective on the current anti-immigration narrative, McGill University’s Crepeau explained that in fact, politicians are encumbered by wrong decisions made about 50 years ago.
Crepeau said that in October 1973, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) raised oil prices, causing a threefold sharp increase that resulted in high inflation and economic recession in Europe and the US. However, politicians failed to deal with the economic crisis effectively, so they blamed the problem on immigrants instead, and used narratives such as “reduce immigration”, “stop immigration” and “protect jobs for locals” to divert public discontent and restrict immigration.
Following the sharp decline in immigrant numbers, those countries faced labour shortages because their citizens were unwilling to take on the low-paying jobs that immigrants performed. To keep operating, local companies needed cheap labour, which led to the emergence of a human-trafficking market that triggered the illegal immigration crisis.
Crepeau commented, “Since immigrants do not have voting rights, it is very difficult for their voices to be heard, so politicians are inclined to use them as scapegoats to achieve their near-term election goals.”
NUS’s Palit said, “Looking ahead, if host country politics becomes more rational, then immigration policies will improve.”
This article was first published in Lianhe Zaobao as “西方反移民情绪高涨 负笈欧美路难行 留学留在亚洲学”.
