Interests And Choices

Students who study aboard are an important part of international talent resources and have been paid more and more attention by many countries. Since 1978, more than 600,000 Chinese students have studied in the U.S., and about 2/3 have stayed abroad after their graduations, which means China's brain Drain has become a serious problem. Among those who stay abroad, some Chinese students or scholars are taking part in some transnational actions, including doing cooperative researches with their country fellows in China, giving lectures in Chinese universities, participating in some programs in China, and so on. By questionnaires and interviews, the research finds that, the multiple choices of Chinese students in the U.S. are caused by different leading interests and changes of interest patterns. Before going abroad, Chinese students' motivations are determined by long term interests and material interests. When they are in the U.S., long term interests and immaterial interests play a crucial role in their choices for going back to China or staying the U.S. When they decide to go back China, they will consider material interests as the most important factor. Institutional environment is very important as well. China's relative policies lead to study abroad easier and easier, and American immigration policies give Chinese students more chances to get the U.S. citizenship. During recent years Chinese government has made some preference policies for overseas Chinese scholars and scientists, however, these policies have their own disadvantages. The thesis argues that, Chinese government should regard problems led by brain drain as a part of its strategy of talent security, reform its related policies and take some measures, to make full use of overseas Chinese brain storage.