China's role as educational aid donor: A study of Chinese Government Scholarship Program

The study examines the effectiveness of Chinese international education assistance through examining the Chinese Government Scholarship Program, an important mechanism of Chinese foreign aid. The main research questions concerned the participants' level of satisfaction with their experience in China and their perception of the role of the scholarship program in promoting long-term friendship relationships between China and the scholarship students' home countries. Results indicate that: (1) Participants are generally satisfied with their experience in China. (2) Personal efforts, cultural and intellectual engagement, and the perceptions of the friendliness and helpfulness of the Chinese students and faculty are most strongly related to participants' level of satisfaction with their China experience. (3) The majority of the participants believe that the scholarship program will contribute to the development of long-term friendly relationships between China and their home countries.; Nevertheless, findings suggest that improvements might be necessary in the administration of international student programs, in the length of compulsory Chinese language training, in teaching methods, in accommodation, and in the level of the living allowances paid by the scholarships. Participants' appreciation of the opportunities offered by the scholarship program support the role of the scholarship program in strengthening host country's soft power. The study also contributes to the larger discussions about China's dual role in development assistance as both donor and aid recipient and the possible emergence of China as a major aid donor in the future.