A Study On Education Development Of International Students In China Under The Belt And Road (B&R) Initiative

The “Belt and Road Initiative”,unveiled by China’s President Xi Jinping in September 2013,was initiated to inherit and carry forward the spirit of Silk Road,develop partnerships between China and countries along the Belt and Road,and create a mutually beneficial cooperative environment,thus providing new opportunities to drive international enrollment in China’s universities.Following the implementation of the “Belt and Road Initiative ",the pattern of international students studying abroad has changed globally and there is a growing trend of overseas students flocking into China.Meanwhile,the Chinese government has been offering a large number of government scholarships annually to expand the number of inbound international students from countries along the Belt and Road and outbound Chinese students in these countries as well as to conduct partnership programs.The construction of the “Belt and Road Initiative" calls for a pressing need for interdisciplinary ready-to-go talents who have highly developed cross-cultural communication skills and global awareness.With strong support from the Initiative,the number of international students in 2017 increased by 130,000 compared to that of 2013.Moving forward rapidly,China needs to forge closer ties with the global community and overseas students,which can serve as a great source of talents for China.As leading instituitions of higher education,Chinese universities need to take into account how to optimize their efforts in expanding international student enrollment,while dealing with students from different countries and regions.Considering the complexity of the overseas students’ geographical and nationality backgrounds,Chinese universities’ enrollment,management and teaching personnel are currently faced with issues and challenges in increasing their enrollment efforts,enhancing management and staffing,teaching and administration,and accommodation for international students,as well as addressing students’ adapting and learning problems.This paper focuses on the problems and solutions for Chinese universities’ academic teaching and international student affairs management,as well as international students’ adaptability to their daily lives in China.From the perspective of international students in China,this paper analyzes the students’ adaptability to their studies and the local cultures,their respective levels of education,and the cultural differences among international students.The analysis highlights the quality of degree programs conducted in English,the limitations of Chinese government scholarships,and the adaptability of international students.Finally,from the perspective of the “Belt and Road Initiative”,this paper also discusses the continued sustainability of China’s international higher education sector.Based on the analysis of China’s current competitive advantages,this study offers some suggestions on how to create a conducive environment for overseas students and increase the competitiveness of Chinese universities in the global market.