A Unique Experience for all students

anuary Interim Experience, or J-Term as it is known to many Gusties past and present, has been in existence at Gustavus Adolphus College since the early 1960s. The mission of January Interim Experience is to provide ways for students and faculty to take advantage of the term’s unique qualities by developing courses and other learning opportunities that enrich and expand upon the College’s regular semester curricular offerings.Here is a sampling of how Gustavus students are spending their time during the month of January:

Study-Abroad Courses

More than 250 Gustavus students are studying abroad during this year’s January Interim Experience in places like Australia, China, Germany, Guatemala, Italy, Peru, Sweden, Tanzania, and others.Associate Professor of Health and Exercise Science Aaron Banks and a group of students are traveling to China and England as part of a travel course titled “Understanding Sport and Leisure in England and China.Using a global, issues-oriented approach, students are studying sports, leisure, and the Olympics, and their relationship to society and culture in the two nations.Associate Professor of Biology Jon Grinnell is teaching a course titled Children of Hope: Health Care and Education in Guatemala,designed to introduce students to the challenges our neighbors in the Two-Thirds World face as they seek to meet the health care and education needs of their children. After spending one week on campus, Grinnell and students are spending the final three weeks of January in Guatemala where they will visit hospitals, clinics, and schools; talk with teachers, literacy workers, and health care providers, as well as with representatives of churches, unions, cooperatives, and governmental and nongovernmental organizations engaged in education and public and community health care projects.

Assistant Professor of Scandinavian Studies Helena Karlsson is leading a group of students to Europe for a class titled Stockholm & Berlin: The Northern European Metropolis.With a focus on class and ethnic diversity, students are exploring the two cities and their histories through texts, articles, films, and the social/cultural life of the cities.

On-Campus Courses

Students who choose to stay on-campus during January Interim Experience always have an interesting assortment of courses to select from.Two unique courses offered by the Mathematics and Computer Science Department are collaborating on a final project during January. Students in Guarionex Salivia’s “What Makes Games Fun?” course are studying the concepts of video game design and the theory of fun in games in an attempt to make a solid theoretical and practical link that will lead to the design of a video game. Students in Choong-Soo Lee’s “iPhone Development course are covering the fundamentals of program design using the Object C programming language for developing iPhone applications. Students from the two courses will collaborate to develop a video game of their own as a final project.

Students in Assistant Professor of Religion Sarah Ruble’s class “Religious Lives,” are exploring how people of faith, particularly Jews, Muslim, and Christians, practice their religious traditions as well as how they eat, date, deal with conflict, and handle loss. The class is also attending several religious services as part of the course.Students in Assistant Professor of Nursing Heidi Meyer’s class “Parenting in the 21st Century,” are studying and discussing a number of parenting topics including pregnancy, parent-infant attachment, historical and current parenting roles and issues, the role of fatherhood, sexual orientation and parenting, cultural variations in parenting styles, and the influence of technology on parenting.

Internships

Many Gustavus students take advantage of January Interim Experience by gaining valuable career experience through a month-long internship. 119 Gustavus students have registered for academic credit for their Interim Career Exploration this January.Interesting internships being performed by Gustavus students this January include:

United Nations internship in Budapest, Hungary
16 pre-health students doing internships at Mayo Clinic, Mankato Clinic, and River’s Edge Hospital and Clinic.
Finance internship at Buffalo Wild Wings
Center for Victims of Torture internship in St. Paul

Independent Study and Research

Approximately 30 Gustavus students are spending January conducting research or an independent study. This is especially common in the sciences in departments such as biology, chemistry, and physics.

Study abroad experience in China

This is what students and faculty will hearwhen they step off the plane in China this July as they embark on UDM's first study-abroad experience inChina.This is the launch trip to China," said Lara Wasner, director of Language and Cultural Training.The trip is duplicated from the Brazil study-abroad trip, which was launched in 2005. That trip went very well, but it started to get too expensive due to the planning for the 2016 Olympics and the World Cup.Ten to 20 UDM students traditionally participate in the Brazil trip.

We are hoping to gainthat amount for the China trip, Wasner said.The tripwill run July 1-14 with stops in megacities like Beijing, Shanghaiand Xi'an.Though this is the university's first time abroad to China, it will be Wasner's fourth.The first two times I went were for recruiting for university programs, said Wasner.My focus on the last trip was education reform in China. I enjoyed all of the visits, even when I was there on business.Wasner met with college students andvisited historical sites.The last time I was there, I dove into the educational aspects of China because of the rapid changes being brought on by the economic growth and development," Wasner said. "From there, planning for the China trip began"following requests by UDM students.

For many, the trip to China will be the trip of a lifetime.For the Rev. William Tillie, the trip will offera great chance to gain more knowledge pertaining to his career aspirations.I think that going to China will be very interesting, said Tillie. "I can't wait to study their culture, religion, interpretation of the Bible,as well as seeing the business side of the country.While I'm there, I hope to gain more knowledge on how to run a business or businesses,he continued.I want to help people who are struggling in this economy and do God's will. This experience will help me grow and when I grow, other people grow as well.Courses will beoffered in comparativeeducation, cultural anthropology, urban issues and problems, and directed readings, a course being offered to students who already have taken one of the other classes, said anthropology Prof.Dr. Aloha Van Camp.

The readings class is a private study arrangement that can be worth anywhere between three to nine credits, said Van Camp.One example is a nursing student who is going to China and is using the directed readings to study the Chinese holistic approach to medicine and how the Chinese medical system is different than ours.Being in Van Camp's cultural anthropology class this semester, Tillie will be participating in directed readings during his trip to China.While I am in China, I have to take at least 100 pictures,said Tillie.Taking the pictures will be the first part of the course and then the second part will be presenting them after we get back.Van Camps hopes that her students will take the opportunity to immerse themselves in Chinese culture.

I think that the traditional classroom learning experience isgood, but the chance to immerse one's self in a culture such as China's is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,said Van Camp.Ms. Wasner has done a wonderful job with the study abroad opportunities here at the university. I am excited about seeing the Great Wall as well as some the megacities such as Beijing and Shanghai. It is a great opportunity for the students and faculty to see where China is going and, especially for the students, see how China will continue to play a key role in society for the future.Students will be attending a Chinese theatre, taking rickshaw tours and participating in many more memorable experiences.The costis not cheap, but Wasner saidfinancial aid and travel grants areavailable for students interested in studying in China.For those who are planning on studying abroad inChinaor in any other summer study abroad program, there is a discounted rate of tuition,said Wasner.You can also apply for financial aid. There is also a travel grant established by Jamie Dylenski and family three summers ago.

Student exchange programs offer Metro teens a chance to live and go to school in a foreign country

Imagine being transported to a foreign country where you don't know the language or the culture, where you don't have any friends and are living in a home with total strangers.That's the adventure students embark upon when they participate in a youth exchange to another country.The most challenging thing about my experience is the language,says Bradley Nason, a 2011 Bernice MacNaughton graduate who is on a Rotary Youth Exchange.

I came to Denmark not being able to speak Danish and it is difficult to understand what is going on sometimes. Luckily they speak English in Denmark as well, so I can communicate with most of the people here.Brad is one of the few students from Metro selected each year to take part in a student exchange, mostly through the Rotary Youth Exchange. The program is open to young people ages 15-25 worldwide. There are two basic types of exchanges: short-term and long term.The short-term exchange is for students aged 15-19 and can be several days to several weeks long. These exchanges don't involve attending high school, but students can tailor their experience to match their interests and can include home stays, tours and youth camps.

Another short-term exchange is for youth aged 18-25 and is ideal for recent secondary school graduates. These exchanges last three to six weeks and can include home stays, tours, camps or internships.The long-term exchange is for students aged 15-19 and involves living with a few host families and attending a local school. This exchange is for one year.Brad is one month into his exchange and he is glad he took advantage of the opportunity.What I enjoy most about my exchange is meeting new people and experiencing new things in a different country.The best memory of my exchange so far has been the first day of school. I just remember never feeling so nervous before in my life and the great experience I had in meeting all of the students in my classes in school.Although it's still early in his exchange experience, Brad has learned some significant lessons already.

The most important thing I've learned about my exchange so far are the similarities and differences we have as people. I never really thought of how - no matter where you are from in the world we all have the same fears, problems, joys and what-have-you as human beings.There are also approximately 60 international students who are currently on exchange in Metro Moncton high schools who undoubtedly feel the same.Most recently, our visiting international students are from Colombia, China, Japan, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Norway, France, Belgium and Mexico," says Diane Ross, an English as an additional language (EAL) mentor for School District 2.For 28 years, Diane taught various grades from kindergarten to Grade 10, teaching mostly French as a second language, English language arts and English as an additional language. She has been seconded to District 2 as the EAL mentor to support and coach teachers who work with students whose first language is not English.

Diane says Rotary International has specific criteria for selecting both incoming and outgoing exchange students.For our visiting international students, each agency has specific criteria; but students are obliged to attend classes, live with a host-family and participate in school, family and community activities.They are 'ambassadors' from their home country, so they need to behave in a way that best represents their countries.The visiting international students stay with host families across Metro Moncton.Local representatives for the educational agencies screen and select host families. Many of these families have done this for years and love the experience that it brings to their own homes and children.There are also benefits to the local students who have visiting international students in their classrooms.

They gain cultural enrichment, new perspectives, language enrichment and realizing that the world is not really that large and we all have so much in common. As a teacher, I found the presence of visiting international students and new Canadians in my classroom to be so enriching for our New Brunswick population.Diane says some personalities are better suited to exchange opportunities.I would think it would be helpful to be confident, a good communicator, flexible, respectful and perhaps brave and courageous, too.Diane notes that Metro Moncton schools also have a growing population of new Canadian students - those who come from overseas to stay in Canada.These students face similar challenges as our visiting students, but the stakes are higher because they want to stay in Canada and often plan to attend post-secondary education here as well. Their families make huge sacrifices sometimes to see that their children receive this opportunity.Students can also get a lot of exposure while studying in such universities and different course.

She adds that the ambassador program at BMHS has been very helpful and successful in supporting new international students at the school. It's an enriching experience for both groups and I think some of our ambassadors may consider doing a year abroad as a result of their experiences with visiting students in Moncton.Brad has some advice for those who are thinking about applying for an exchange experience.Just go for it. You only get one chance in your life to do this sort of thing and if you have any interest in doing something like this, just do it. Being an exchange student is one of the hardest, funniest, scariest and most memorable experiences in my life, but my life would be a lot different if I weren't one.

Frequently asked questions about the Rotary Youth Exchange Program:

* What are my responsibilities?
As a Youth Exchange student, you agree to:
* Act as an ambassador for your home country
* Abide by all program rules of your host Rotary club and district
* Accept the supervision of the host family, club, and district
* Ask questions of your host family and local Rotarians
* Be an active participant in your exchange
* How do I qualify?
* Be an above-average student or young professional with demonstrated leadership in the community
* Be open to new experiences and cultural differences
* Be sponsored by a local Rotary club
* Complete a written application and in-person interview
* How much will it cost?
Youth Exchange is coordinated at the regional level by Rotary districts and at the local level by Rotary clubs. Costs vary greatly from one area to another. Typically, participants and their parents cover the following expenses:
* Round-trip airfare
* Health and accident insurance
* Travel documents
* Clothing and other necessities
* Spending money
* Emergency funds for unpredicted expenses
* Ancillary travel and tours
In most clubs and districts, participants do not pay placement fees, so those with financial constraints can share the exchange experience.
Sharing in the costs are host families (who pay for room and board), the host community (who cover school tuition and arrangements) and host Rotary club (who offer a small stipend of usually US$50-100 monthly.)
* Where will my exchange be?
Exchanges can take place in more than 150 countries and geographical areas. Please note, however, that the countries you visit depend on your home Rotary district. Contact your local club or district for more information.
* How do I host a Rotary Youth Exchange student?
By hosting a Youth Exchange student in your home, you'll make a young person's dream come true, and you and your family will share an unforgettable and fulfilling experience.
As a host family, you will:
* Provide room and board
* Supervise the student just as you would your own children
* Involve the student in family activities and chores
* Enrich the exchange experience by including the student in family, community, and cultural activities
Host families aren't compensated financially. The program is run entirely by dedicated volunteers, which helps keep costs low.

High college cut offs attracts world’s top universities to India for talent

College cut offs reached new heights this June as the 10% increase in entry requirements into Indian colleges caused great challenges to students achieving less than top marks. Even talented students achieving marks in the 80+ range are likely to face difficulty in gaining a spot at their first choice university in India. The world’s top universities recognise the talent in Indian students and will arrive in India between the 13th and 21st of September to meet and recruit the best Indian students to their institutions.

With prestigious colleges such as Shri Ram College of Commerce, Hindu College, and Lady Shri Ram College requiring 100%, 99% and 97%* respectively, over 150,000 Indian students are currently pursuing higher education degrees overseas. The recently released eighth edition of the QS World University Rankings® 2011, which ranks the top 700 universities in the world shows the range of world class universities . The top 100 consisting of universities from UK, US, China, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Denmark and Canada to name a few. The QS World University Tour, an undergraduate recruitment event from the team behind the QS World University Rankings®, brings some of these top-ranked institutions from around the world to meet with the best Indian students looking to study abroad.

Universities from around the world are keen to recruit in India and have long recognised the potential of the country’s students and the value they add to their universities. Marina Tirado, Head of International Development at IE University in Spain says,Over the course of the last year India has played a major role in global business. The talent of Indian students is internationally renowned which is why we’re actively recruiting these future leaders to our university.Peter MacDonald, Head of Graduate Products at QS says, ‘The best higher education institutions in India are heavily oversubscribed; the supply and demand of quality institutions in India does not go hand in hand.He continues,Candidates may be pleasantly surprised at the entry requirements of some of the best universities in the world in comparison to those in India. Countries such as Canada are offering very favourable visa environments for Indian students in hope of attracting the best students to the country.

For those worried about the high cost sometimes associated with studying abroad, many institutions travelling with the tour will provide scholarships and offer practical advice on applying to different financial aid schemes. Attendees will also have the opportunity to speak with admissions directors from universities around the world, receive admissions advice from independent experts and attend seminars on studying abroad. QS is the world’s leading information specialist in the higher education sector. QS mission is to enable motivated people to fulfill their potential by fostering educational achievement, international mobility and career development.Through our exclusive events, publications, research and interactive web tools, we link undergraduate, graduate, MBA and executive communities around the world with recruiters and education providers.

Many western students should study abroad

Educating citizens from Asia and elsewhere is big business for universities in Europe and the US. For the governments of countries like China, sending bright young people overseas to study is considered essential for ensuring the nation's continued economic success. Yet British school leavers are, on the whole, reluctant to study too far away from home, as are their peers in many other developed nations.Mauritians, Indians and increasingly Russians happily travel abroad to read for degrees and then return home, not only steeped in the latest knowledge but with fresh cultural insights and an international outlook that equips them for the demands of a globalised work environment.

It is a great pity that more young people in the UK, Europe and elsewhere aren't encouraged to spend part or all of their degree programmes abroad. With the seismic shift in the global economic and political power dynamics currently underway, it is an obvious competitive advantage in the workplace for those who do take the leap to have a keen sense of how things work in countries that are on the rise, like China.To a large extent, this trend of international students flowing mostly one way is based on the perception that university standards are much higher in developed countries than they are elsewhere. Students from less developed nations expect to get closer to the latest research and scientific and engineering methods in countries with mature tertiary education sectors.However, globalisation has led to major structural changes in the way education is delivered. It is no longer necessary to travel to the UK, for example, to graduate with a British degree.For example, it is possible to study in English at a British university in China such as the University of Nottingham Ningbo and graduate with a British degree. Or a student could opt to spend some time in the UK and some in China, and maybe even throw a period of study at Nottingham's university in Malaysia into the mix.

The modular structure of degree programmes and content uniformity across the university's campuses means it is uncomplicated for students to switch countries and they don't have to extend their degree programmes in order to study abroad. Quality is controlled through rigorous procedures, so that the same high standards can be maintained whether an exam or essay is being marked in Ningbo, Kuala Lumpur or the UK Midlands.Another reason students from western countries probably don't take up studies in Asia or elsewhere is quite simply the distance from friends and family.The prospect of spending some or all of a degree programme thousands of kilometers from home in another time zone is daunting, even though technologies like Skype can make someone feel like they are right in your living room.Students can also get a lot of exposure while studying in such universities and different course.

Then there is the issue of culture. Not everyone can cope with the prospect of experiencing a different lifestyle and meal options for anything other than a short, exotic holiday.Many of these fears are misplaced. At the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, for example, students can experience a new culture and different way of life at their own pace.They can opt to live in the international student residence, where the bedrooms and bathrooms look just as they do at home and where there is access to their own cooking facilities. Familiar food is available at an international store nearby.The residence is on an attractive, secure campus on a UK-style high street that includes shops, restaurants, a bank and post office, a hair-dressing salon and a travel agent. Also on campus are a Western-style coffee shop and sandwich bar and a restaurant that serves Western meals.

For students who are keen to take the plunge into Chinese living, there are a range of canteens specialising in different styles of cuisine from around China including one which is Halaal. There is a vibrant street market nearby where they can sample the local delicacies.We encourage students to socialise across cultural groups through the many societies and events at the university. One organisation is dedicated to helping international students settle in. The university offers organised trips to scenic and historical spots and nearby cities, and generally finds that it doesn't take long for students to start using the weekends and holidays to see as much of China and Asia as possible in their own groups.Many international students arrive eager to learn Mandarin as part of their degree programmes. We also offer complimentary Mandarin lessons for students who want some basic phrases so that they can get around and make the most of their time in China.

For serious matters, like visits to hospital and mandatory visa-related health checks, we have qualified medical professionals available around-the-clock at the campus clinic. We ensure they are taken care of as they would be at home.Finance is always an issue for young people contemplating degree programmes. Although the education fees at Nottingham Ningbo are comparable to the UK, students generally find living and travel expenses more affordable in China.And as part of our commitment to the internationalisation of all of our student communities around the world, the university offers opportunities for scholarships, bursaries and other forms financial assistance to international students.In short: most of what we do enhances the international student experience. The more nationalities we can attract, the richer and more rewarding the education experience will be for all our students in a fast-changing world where it increasingly matters to have an international outlook and perspicacity in dealings across cultures.

Scholarship Contest Supports President Obama and Hillary Clinton’s "100,000 Strong" Initiative

Abroad101, the world’s first and largest website featuring study abroad program reviews, has partnered with IEM Study Abroad to offer its first scholarship contest. The $10k China Giveaway,which launches today, will grant three lucky students 10,000 dollars worth of scholarships to IEM’s China program in Shanghai, promoting the mission of President Obama and Hillary Clinton’s 100,000 Strong initiative.Abroad101 is committed to helping as many students as possible study abroad by providing insider program reviews for students and universities alike,says Michael Stone, President of Abroad101.Given our mutual efforts to promote meaningful international experiences, we are thrilled to support ‘100,000 Strong’ by partnering with IEM to offer a scholarship to encourage more students to study in China.

Launched in May 2010 by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the 100,000 Strong initiative is,a national effort designed to increase dramatically the number and diversify the composition of American students studying in China.In a recent statement, Hillary Clinton affirmed,Today, more than ever, there is a global understanding that no major challenge can be resolved without the active engagement of both the United States and China. That is why President Obama has called upon the nation to build up a cadre of Americans knowledgeable about Chinese history, culture, and language.Grammy-award winning musician and producer will.i.am has also become a supporter of this initiative, confirming that,In order to become responsible global citizens, young people need to experience the world around them. Kids from underserved communities rarely have the opportunity to study and travel abroad, and we want to change that.

Michael Vu, VP of Programs at IEM Study Abroad, states, IEM’s Study Abroad participants often refer to their time in China as among the most transformative events of their lives. Whether relaxing at Xing Wei College, touring China’s most historically diverse cities (such as Shanghai, Suzhou, Xi’an and Beijing) or interning in Shanghai with a cosmopolitan corporation, IEM Study Abroad students are deeply immersed in Chinese culture.Abroad101 is a popular destination for students to find the perfect study abroad program for their needs. Vu reaffirms that,Prospective study abroad students already visit Abroad101 to locate exactly the kind of unique and exemplary programs that IEM Study Abroad works so hard to offer programs that strike a happy balance between flexibility and structure, cultural immersion and cohort participation, adventure and comfort.Students can enter the $10k China Giveaway contest through October 17th

About Abroad101:
Abroad101 is a review website and online marketplace for the $40B International Education industry. Founded in 2007 by Tufts, Harvard, and MIT graduates, Abroad101’s mission is to promote global citizenship by fostering the most meaningful study abroad experience for all students through technology innovation in higher education. Abroad101 empowers universities with its free market-leading online evaluation tool and provides an advertising and student recruitment platform to global program providers. Abroad101 is a 2010 winner of the MassChallenge global startup competition.

About IEM’s China Program:
The IEM Study Abroad China Program presents a blend of East and West unique to the Study Abroad market. Students study at Xing Wei College, where they are able to survey and explore Chinese culture from the structural comfort of a familiar curriculum. At the same time, students participate in the outstanding IEM Peer Mentorship Program. This program intensively pairs each student with a Chinese counterpart who actively introduces that student to the finer points of Chinese culture. IEM Study Abroad has worked hard to ensure that the China experience is one filled with academic challenge, breathtaking excursions, a full schedule of fun activities and memories that will last a lifetime!

Students interested studying abroad in Europe

University students interested in studying abroad in Europe now have new program options at top-ranking universities in Northern Ireland and Ireland through International Studies Abroad.
Beginning in spring 2012, International Studies Abroad (ISA), one of the leading study abroad program providers in the United States, will offer programs at Queen's University Belfast and the National University of Ireland, Galway.

Our programs offer students the opportunity to explore a different side of the Europe,said Jimmy Brazelton, ISA Coordinator of New Program Initiatives.Students who study in Ireland or Northern Ireland will take courses with locals at renowned universities while immersing themselves in traditional Irish culture.In addition to offering courses in Irish Gaelic, the programs feature student excursions to destinations such as Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Wexford, County Antrim, and Londonderry, to name a few, all led by on-site ISA staff members.

"As we gear up for ISA's 25th anniversary in 2012, we're excited to add Ireland and Northern Ireland to our growing list of study abroad locations, said Arturo Artaza, Executive Vice President of University Relations and Marketing.We're pleased to be leading the field with on-site resident staff to support students in both Belfast and Galway.Queen's University Belfast, founded in 1845, is the largest higher education institute in Northern Ireland and is recognized as one of the UK's 20 leading research universities. From Accounting to Women's Studies, ISA students can choose from over 3,000 courses in 100 different subject areas to fulfill academic credit requirements while abroad.

National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway, founded in 1845, is a leader in research and teaching. Hosting more than 100 student societies and sports clubs, NUI Galway encourages the integration of international students throughout the entire campus. ISA participants can join any of these student organizations or the university's popular volunteer program to enrich their experience abroad.For close to twenty five years, International Studies Abroad (ISA) has provided college students in the United States and Canada the opportunity to explore the world. ISA offers a wide variety of study abroad programs at accredited schools and universities in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, England, France, India,Austria, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Northern Ireland, Panama, Peru, South Korea and Spain.

Universities to open free online courses

Liao Kaili, a girl from a poor rural family with three children in Henan province, dreams of never leaving the campus.What a wonderful dream it would be for me to listen to a professor's lectures while living in Beijing,the 18-year-old told China Daily.Liao had to give up an offer of a place in high school, as her parents needed her to get a job to support her little brother who is still in primary school.

However, the dream of attending a university will no longer be so remote for Liao as about 20 of China's top universities, such as Peking and Tsinghua universities, plan to open 100 online courses to society in the autumn term.To improve the quality of education and balance teaching resources among different regions, the number of online open courses will increase to 1,000 during the 12th Five-Year Plan 2011-2015 period, said the Ministry of Education.The first batch of online open courses from Chinese universities were launched in April, after similar courses from Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Oxford had become popular across China.Inspired by this, domestic universities, like Fudan University in Shanghai, have started to make their lectures and courses available to the public on platforms such as v.163.com/open.

A series of lectures about ancient Chinese philosophy by Wang Fansen, a famous history scholar, are now available.Fudan holds more than 2,000 lectures annually. In the past five years, the university has recorded more than 500 lectures, some of which will be gradually opened to the public, according to the university.However, people doubt whether the domestic open courses will be competitive with foreign open classes.I prefer to listen to a foreign professor's open course unless it is about China's history or culture,said Huang Wenwen, a graduate from the communication and new media department of the City University of Hong Kong.The professor's good presentation skills and the courses' special features give foreign open courses an advantage.

China has provided high school lessons to the public for several years, but the influence has been limited as the courses are hard to understand.Although those online lectures have been very popular in China, domestic open courses have a long way to go to have an impact on society, said Xiong Bingqi, deputy director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, a Beijing-based non-profit private educational policy research body.However, some university professors argue that online open courses are resources shared by the university and its teachers.The free open courses are an infringement of the intellectual property rights of teachers,said Chen Lidan, a journalism professor with Renmin University of China.

New study abroad

The research compared the internationalisation of higher education in 11 of the largest and most active countries in this area. It examined national performance in three categories: openness, access and equity, and quality assurance & degree recognition.One of the reasons Germany scores particularly high is because its policies focus as much on supporting and encouraging domestic students and academics to spend time studying or working abroad as on attracting students and academics from other countries.

The German government aims to have half of all home students spending at least one semester abroad during studies. A 'Go out! Studying around the world' campaign was launched in 2006 by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to support this goal. This was followed by 'Go East!' to encourage German students to study in East and Central Europe.DAAD also sponsors over 55,000 individuals a year with competitive scholarships for Germans studying or doing research abroad, or international students and researchers coming to Germany.Countries such as Australia and the UK scored well in the openness and 'quality assurance' and 'recognition' categories, but went down significantly in the 'access and equity' category. They demonstrated limited support to encourage home students and academics to experience higher education abroad, and provided relatively few financial incentives for international students.

The increasing popularity of joint and dual degree programmes, the introduction of English-taught courses and degree programmes in many non-English speaking countries, as well as the Bologna Process to standardise degree programmes across more than 40 European countries, have opened up new opportunities for students to study abroad.While the US receives by far the most international students, and has five times more overseas branch campuses than any other country, it is losing market share to the UK, Australia,Austria and China.

Study abroad opportunity

At age 11, Ming Canaday left the Chinese orphanage she had lived in her entire life and started a new life with her adoptive family in the United States.I feel like I’ve lived two lives one there and one here,Canaday said of China.Life there is like a lifetime ago.Now, nine years later, Canaday, a University sophomore studying international relations and Chinese, has dedicated her education to learning about her native country. She hopes doing so will help her to make a difference for its people.

Most people don’t get the opportunity to go back to the past and change things,Canaday said of her numerous trips back to China.I feel like I have that opportunity.With the funds from the prestigious Boren Scholarship awarded to Canady for her interest in China, Canaday plans to return in January for a five-month study abroad program followed by a four-month long internship.But for Canaday, the experience is about more than studying in a foreign country. It is an opportunity to give back.As a child, Canaday suffered from a severe case of scoliosis that required a 24-hour surgery to treat when she came to the United States. Without the surgery, she likely would have died by 20, Canaday said. Post-polio, a condition that affects polio survivors years after they were affected by the virus, has also left Canaday physically handicapped. She plans to use this opportunity to return to China to offer the aid that she received to others in its physically disabled population.

I want to see what it’s like to just live as a disabled person in China,Canaday said.I think it will give me a lot of insight into how disabled people’s day to day lives are and how they manage the inaccessibleness of China.The Boren Scholarship, awarded to undergraduate students who plan to study abroad in countries critical to U.S. interests, provides up to $20,000 to its recipients. Canaday was one of 151 who received the scholarship this year 944 applied. Combined with her other financial aid, Canaday expects the award to cover the entire cost of her trip.Students can also get a lot of exposure while studying in such universities and different course Master of Architecture, Engineering and Software Systems.

I applied because I thought it was a good opportunity,Canaday said, adding that she hopes the program and following internship could lead to job after graduation.It’s the opportunity to get a job right after undergrad and see how the government functions so that I could know how the policies and legal side of things work,Canaday said. She plans to use this understanding of government policy to help create laws and policies that help the disabled population.And as for apprehensions about leaving her family for nearly a year to go halfway around the world, Canaday is far from concerned.I just felt at home with the country, Canaday said of previous trips to China.I grew up there. It didn’t feel like a foreign country.

Students chosen to travel abroad

Briefly, from School Library Journal For Tommy, the only question is whether or not Origami Yoda is real. Of course he’s real as a small puppet on Dwight’s finger. But does the oracle possess magic power? In order to find out, he decides to compile scientific evidence from the experiences of those who asked Origami Yoda for help. His friend Harvey is invited to comment on each story because he thinks Yoda is nothing but a ‘green paper wad.Tommy also comments because he’s supposedly trying to solve the puzzle. In actuality, the story is about boys and girls in sixth grade trying to figure out how being social works. The situations that Yoda has a hand in are pretty authentic, and the setting is broad enough to be any school. The plot is age-old but with the twist of being presented on crumpled pages with cartoon sketches, supposed hand printing, and varying typefaces. Kids should love it.

Nightly TV read-aloud show continues

Storytime, the nightly television show in which community members read books to children, will continue to air at 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on the Education Channel, cable 99.The read-aloud show is recommended for prekindergarten through fifth-grade students.This week’s stories include:Harry Houdini: Escape Artist,The Frog Prince, Continued,Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter,The Keeping Quilt and The Story About Pig.


Memorial scholarship set up for Immokalee students

A memorial scholarship has been established in honor of Sgt. Linda Pierre. The 28-year-old Immokalee resident was one of five U.S. soldiers killed April 16 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.In response to community support, a nonprofit corporation, the Sgt. Linda Pierre Memorial Scholarship, Inc., has been established. The founding committee includes Larry Wilcoxson from Immokalee, Tim Nance and Shari Monetta from Golden Gate Estates, and Chuck Marshall from Naples.A dedication ceremony for the new scholarship will be held at 9:30 a.m. today at Immokalee High School.Donations received by the memorial fund will used to provide scholarships for Immokalee High School graduates in memory of Pierre’s service. A committee consisting of Immokalee community leaders and representatives of Immokalee High School will award the scholarships.Funds will be held at an account at Bank of America. Persons wishing to donate to the scholarship fund can make deposits at any Bank of America banking center in the name of the Sergeant Linda Pierre Memorial Scholarship.
Checks, made payable to the Sergeant Linda Pierre Memorial Scholarship, can also be mailed directly to: Tim Nance -Treasurer, P.O. Box 990129, Naples, FL 34116.Spring Creek Elementary School team wins state, heads to nationals

The Full Circle Team from Spring Creek Elementary in Bonita Springs not only took home the first place trophy, they received the Renatra Fusca Award for outstanding creativity in the solution to their long term problem at the state Odyssey of the Mind competition held recently.
Odyssey of the Mind is an international program which fosters creativity, team work and problem solving as the teams develop a solution to a long-term problem and also demonstrate their quick thinking in a spontaneous problem.This is the second year in a row that Spring Creek has had a team go to the world competition. The team now faces fundraising in a short amount of time. The team will need to raise $10,000 to cover room, board and airfare for the five team members, coaches and parent chaperons. World will be held May 27 to 31 in College Park, Md.
If you are interested in learning more about the team or making a donation please contact Spring Creek Elementary coach Beth Graziani at (239) 947-0001.Police, fire departments to host Naples youth academyThe City of Naples Police and Fire departments will host a Youth Academy this summer.The one-week program will introduce middle school students, ages 11 to 14, to careers in law enforcement, fire service and emergency medical service. Students will be involved in classroom and practical exercises.Students can also get a lot of exposure while studying in such universities and different course Global Change Ecology,Industrial Engineering and Master of Landscape Architecture.

Naples Art Museum names button contest winner

Congratulations to Golden Gate High School sophomore Deanna Caceres for being named the winner of the Naples Museum of Art Button Design Contest. The winning button design was selected based on its representation of this year’s theme,Art!The annual contest, open to students at all grade levels, is designed to promote the importance of the arts for young visitors to the museum. Approximately 2,000 entries were submitted. Caceres’ winning design will become next year’s button, given out to students during visits to the museum during the 2011-12 school year.Additionally, Honorable Mention designations have been awarded to five students in recognition of their outstanding achievement. These designs will be printed as stickers which, along with the buttons, are distributed on Family Days.In addition to Caceres, students recognized include: Matteo Bernal, a third-grader at Veterans Memorial Elementary School; Jaylen Carroll, a sixth-grader at Eden Park Elementary School; Adriana Cruz Lopez, a senior at Lely High School; Emily Serna, a fifth-grader at Sabal Palm Elementary School; and Savannah Raines, a junior at Palmetto Ridge High School.

GED Connection to air on Education Channel

If you’re planning to take the General Educational Development exam anytime soon, you’ll want to be sure and catch the GED Connection television show, which provides adult learners with the skills and knowledge needed to prepare for and pass the newly revised GED exam. The GED Connection series combines 39 video programs, print materials and Internet learning activities to make studying for the test effective. From the first episode through the last, GED Connection takes an in-depth look at the five subject areas covered on the GED exam reading, writing, math, science and social studies.Tune in to The Education Channel, cable 99, each weekday at 6:30 a.m., and 10 p.m., beginning Monday, May 9, to catch all the 30-minute episodes.

Those who would like to prepare for the GED exam in a classroom setting can take advantage of GED preparation classes offered at no cost at the following locations: The Golden Gate Adult Learning Center, 2701 48th Terrace SW, (239) 377-3905; Immokalee Technical Center, 508 N. 9th St., in Immokalee, (239) 377-9900 ; and Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology, 3702 Estey Ave., (239) 377-0984

Bullying awareness panel rescheduled

The Bullying Awareness Discussion Panel originally scheduled for April 27 at Palmetto Ridge High School, which was cancelled due to brush fires in Golden Gate Estates, has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, May 9, in the Palmetto Ridge High School auditorium, 1655 Victory Lane.Parents of students attending any Collier County public school located in Golden Gate Estates are invited to attend this very informative event. District school psychologists, school counselors and behavior specialists will be joined by members of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office to discuss several topics associated with bullying.The focus of the panel is to provide those in attendance with an awareness of bullying as well as information on the topic. Specific areas covered include: state laws and district policy around bullying; procedures followed for investigating bullying in schools; and how to recognize a bullying situation and talk to your children about bullying.To learn more, please contact the district’s coordinator for Safe and Drug Free Schools, Nancy Tarrete, at (239) 377-0128.

Immokalee BETA Club shines at state competition

Some 70 Immokalee High School (IHS) BETA Club members are back home after winning first place honors at the 69th Annual State of Florida BETA Club Convention recently held in Orlando. Immokalee finished first in the state competition in banner, campaign skit, participation, philanthropy, scrapbook and service. The Immokalee Indians also took fifth place in the quiz bowl.Other notable honors: Junior Joseph Flores was elected State of Florida BETA Club president; junior Amelea Rodriguez won first place in the photography competition; junior Dulce Morales won first place in the spelling competition; senior Elva Sandoval won second place in the ceramics competition; junior Linda Jean Pierre won second place in the oratory competition; junior Efren Moreno won second place in the Spanish competition; and junior DJ Kendall won third place in the Math competition.Based on their performance, the Immokalee BETA Club has earned the right to represent Florida at the 31st Annual National BETA Convention to be held June 21-24 in Nashville, Tenn. Until then, club members will be busy raising funds to pay for their journey.

BETA is an acronym for Better Education Through Achievement. The club motto is Let us lead by serving others.” To be eligible to take part in convention activities, BETA members must maintain a 3.0 grade point average. IHS has been involved with BETA for 56 years, and the club has a proud history of doing exceptionally well in both state and national competitions – having won awards at the state level every year since the mid-80’s and at the national level every year since 1990.


Students chosen to travel abroad

Each summer, the Naples Council on World Affairs School Outreach Committee offers scholarships to students in Collier County to participate in an international experience. The Experiment in International Living is a program of World Learning that offers summer programs for high school students. The focus of the programs is to encourage students to expand their understanding of the world and its cultures and potentially change their lives forever. Part of each program will include a home stay with a local host family.This year, seven students have qualified for scholarships and will be traveling to eight countries as student ambassadors. Study abroad in Austria. Barron Collier High School student Maria Casado will travel to Italy where her program will focus on language and the arts.Golden Gate High School student Medens Gerbier has chosen to experience the culture, language, animal habitats and visits to historic religious sites of Thailand. Community School of Naples student Becky Henkind will be exploring China and improving her Chinese language skills as she visits Beijing and travels to the interior to learn about the diverse ethnic minorities living in remote areas of China. Seacrest High School student Kerrie Durham is interested in learning more about the Arabic language and Islamic culture of Morocco. Barron Collier High School student Johanna Fornberg will visit Botswana where she will explore its diverse ecosystems as well as work with villagers on development projects to improve living conditions in the host village. Golden Gate High School student Revenel Metayer has chosen to experience Ghanaian hospitality and generosity as he learns Twi language, history, culture and economics of Ghana. And Barron Collier High School student Katherine Nunner will improve her Spanish language skills and learn about the traditions and regional cultures of the people during her visit to Spain where she will explore the historic sites.

Students choose to study abroad

While millions of her peers are revising intensively for this year's national college entrance exam, which falls on June 7 and 8, Su Zixuan is able to feel rather more relaxed.After getting an offer from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in March, the 17-year-old is one of thousands of Chinese students heading overseas for her higher education.The number of Chinese students studying abroad has rapidly increased in recent years. For the 2009 to 2010 academic year, a total of 229,300 Chinese students were being educated abroad, up 30 percent from the previous year, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Education.

"Since 2000, the number of Chinese students abroad increased at an average annual rate of 20 percent. By 2014, the number is expected to hit 550,000 to 600,000, said Sang Peng, director of the Beijing Overseas-Study Service Association.Industry experts pointed out that there is a prevailing trend of Chinese students studying overseas at a younger age.Not long ago, the majority of Chinese students went abroad to pursue a master's degree or PhD. Undergraduates only accounted for 30 percent of the total,said Richard Yang, director of Aoji Enrolment Center of International Education Ltd, part of the Aoji Education Group.It is likely this will change over the next three years. Those in high school or undertaking undergraduate studies are expected to make up 70 percent of those being educated abroad. Of them, students in higher education will make up 30 percent, Yang said.

Chen Hua, business director of Beijing-based intermediary agency Wiseway International Co Ltd, believes high school graduates will become the main component of students studying abroad from 2011.This trend is also reflected in the fact that the number of Chinese students sitting the college entrance exam is in a downward trend.Some 9.57 million high school students across China registered to take the college entrance exam in 2010, approximately 650,000 fewer than the previous year, and 930,000 fewer than 2008, figures from the Ministry of Education showed.In Beijing, it is the fifth year in a row that the numbers have fallen. About 76,000 students signed up to take the exam this year, down 6 percent from a year earlier, marking the lowest ever application level, according to Beijing Education Examination Authority.

So, what is behind the lowering age of overseas Chinese students?First, going abroad is an alternative to the national college entrance exam, which has long been described as a stampede of "thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of horses across a single log bridge.I decided to send my 14-year-old son to Australia for his high school education this autumn because there is too much pressure on him to prepare for the college entrance exam,said Zhang Ran, a manager of a pharmaceutical company in Beijing.The enormous pressure will definitely harm a child's physical and mental health, and I don't think it's worthwhile that all the hard work goes into a one-time exam,he added.

Lu Jun, a senior consultant at Chivast Education International Co, which is the first approved intermediary agency by the Ministry of Education, said most Chinese parents firmly believe that the younger their children go abroad, the sooner they get accustomed to the local cultural and social environment.Studying abroad can cultivate young students to be more independent and more adaptable to new environments. These abilities will help them in job-hunting in the future, said Lu.Generally speaking, overseas schools provide a more flexible learning environment and pay more attention to students' soft skills such as decision-making, initiative, leadership, teamwork and sociability, which are often lacking in a Chinese school's curriculum, he said.Last but not least, the demand of Chinese students to study abroad has also been driven by rising incomes of Chinese families.Students can also get a lot of exposure while studying in such universities and different course Engineering
Business Administration and Industrial Engineering.

In the next decade, the population of China's middle class will reach some 400 million from its current 150 million, according to the Boston Consulting Group forecast.Currently, total costs, including tuition fees and living expenses, of studying in a high school in the United States range between 200,000 yuan and 250,000 yuan a year, according to Yan Tingting, director of the US and Canada business division at Aoji Education GroupStudying in other countries, such as Canada and Australia, would cost 150,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan annually, said Yan.Intermediary agencies, such as Aoji and Wiseway, provide services that assist students through their entire application process, including language test preparation, application documentation and visa interview training. The average cost is 10,000 to 30,000 yuan for one student.

Chinese students' enthusiasm for studying abroad at a younger age has prompted not only more and more intermediary agencies to enter the market, but also many top high schools to change.Many students, including Su Zixuan, decided not to sit the rigid exam long before they graduated from middle schools and chose to study in specialized classes rather than at ordinary public high schools.Three years ago, Su enrolled in a Cambridge International Examinations A-Level Course at the high school affiliated to Renmin University of China in Beijing.The course has about 120 students every year and the tuition fee is 80,000 yuan annually. After graduation, students can get a high school diploma recognized by universities in more than 160 countries and regions, according to the school.About 60 percent of our teachers are foreigners and all of our text books are in English. What we are learning here is very similar to high school students in the UK or US,said Su.

I believe these kinds of international courses can help students to overcome the language barrier and to better adapt to foreign teaching methods. Students can also improve their ability to take care of themselves before leaving home during this three-year high school period,said Huang Ping, Su's mother.Moreover, this saves a large amount of money compared with going straight to an overseas high school, she added.Other cities across the country, including Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hangzhou, have also introduced special classes for students who intend to study overseas.However, some experts warned that studying abroad at younger ages could be a double-edged sword for Chinese students.

The psychological fragility of many young students is a big concern,said Bai Zhangde, director general of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange under the Ministry of Education.Those who leave their homes and their parents at a young age will suffer from loneliness and homesickness and they can easily feel isolated in a strange environment, he added.Those who are too young to tell right from wrong may indulge in improper or even illegal activities without the guidance of their parents, he said.

Top Five Study Abroad Destinations

All college students enjoy life on campus—but for some, going off on their own to experience a new country and culture can be equally, if not more, rewarding. Studying abroad is the perfect way to pursue academic research, learn a new language, and have a life-changing time. For travelers or students considering studying abroad, Let’s Go is naming their top study abroad destinations for 2011.

India
Students who like variety are flocking to India. From religions to spices, and landscapes to lifestyles, no two things in India are alike. Studying in India is relevant for anyone interested in medicine, business, religion, international politics, computer sciences,Electrical Engineering, or environmental sustainability. As an added bonus, students will find almost every aspect of their experience to be budget-friendly.

China
Once the jetlag wears off, students studying abroad in China can expect an energetic semester filled with endless new experiences. China is an up-and-coming study abroad destination for students interested in international relations, the global economy, and East Asian culture. The American dollar goes a long way, which will make trying the various nuances of Chinese fare easier than saying ni hao ma, or How are you doing?

Chile
A semester spent studying in Chile allows students to ski in the Andes Mountains and visit some of the biggest, most open beaches on the Pacific coast in one day. Even if you don’t speak Spanish and let’s be real, Chilean Spanish is nothing like the Spanish learned in traditional classrooms, there are many English-speaking job opportunities for students interested in working abroad after graduation.

South Africa
The scenes and stories from South Africa are the stuff of legends (think The Lion King meets World Cup 2010). South Africa has many colleges and universities par excellence, with classes taught in any of the 11 official languages. The cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town are very affordable, functional, and modern there will be no problem tweeting from here.

New Zealand
New Zealand is a cheaper alternative to the UK or Australia for students looking to study in an English-speaking country. It’s also a great place for students seeking outdoor adventure. In their time off students can backpack, sail, and see achingly beautiful landscapes, as well as whale watch, scuba dive, and bungee jump. New Zealand has several top-caliber universities in specialized fields, but students can also pursue broad academic interests like psychology, anthropology, and sociology.

About Let’s Go, Inc.
Let's Go publishes the world's favorite student travel guides written entirely by college undergraduates. With pen and notebook in hand, and a few changes of underwear stuffed in their backpacks, Let's Go student researchers go across continents, through time zones, and above expectations to seek out the best travel experiences. Let’s Go has been on the road for 50 years and counting; and on a mission to provide readers with sharp, fresh coverage and socially responsible opportunities to go beyond tourism.

Advisors noticed an increase in students studying abroad because of family ancestry

Senior business major Jon Li’s entire family is from China, but as a U.S. born citizen, he felt no connection with Chinese culture until he studied abroad last year.Li said he walked into the WSU Education Abroad Office with his mind made up: he was going to China in order to finally connect with the heritage he knew almost nothing about.Li is one of the increasing number of WSU students who choose to study abroad for heritage-seeking reasons. While it is likely many second- and third-generation students went abroad to seek a connection with family ancestry in the past, more students are now actively voicing it, said Kate Wray Chettri, an Education Abroad adviser and outreach and assessment coordinator.

I’ve worked at WSU for the last five years and our conferences always focus on trends in education abroad or issues in education abroad,she said.Heritage seeking is definitely something that comes up on the list of popular topics, which is a reflection on what’s going on among students who study abroad.Wray Chettri said it has become more common for students whose majors do not easily accommodate for studying abroad to legitimize going if they have family or heritage overseas. She said students probably have more setbacks financially and academically than they did 10 or 20 years ago when education was less expensive and there were not as many academic restrictions. Li said in addition to choosing to study in China to gain a better understanding of his Chinese background, he went to create an experience that would set him apart from other business students. He said the economic downturn of the economy in 2008 willed him to delay graduation in favor of studying abroad.I feel like if I didn’t have family there, it would have been more difficult to justify studying abroad,Li said.It would be a shame to carry out your life not knowing all the members of your family.Data taken from Education Abroad Office files shows five students identified an interest in studying abroad in a country where they had family ties in 2009, but only three students actually followed through with the trip. Data from 2010 shows an increase to nine students initially showing an interest in studying abroad for heritage-seeking reasons, and five sticking to their plan. Students can also get a lot of exposure while studying in such universities and different course European Studies ,Intercultural Anglophone and Engineering.Many more students likely studied abroad in countries where they had family ancestry, but did not state it outright, Wray Chettri said. She said students who want to go abroad for heritage-seeking reasons may be steered away from studying in a country of their family’s origin due to cost, especially in European countries. For senior zoology major Blair Hamacher, the trip was worth the expense.

Hamacher studied in northern Germany because she wanted to gain a better understanding of the country where much of her family came from. Having additional family to visit in Ireland added to her desire to study in Europe in general, she said.Hamacher said she felt a strong sense of pride in having a more personal experience abroad than the average American student. “My major doesn’t have anything to do with foreign language, so I think that really drove me to learn more about my family,she said.I also came back with a strong sense of what it’s like to be an American. It was a really valuable perspective that is hard to gain if you don’t remove yourself and go abroad.Li echoed Hamacher’s insight on uncovering family roots and discovering new perspectives abroad.I think I definitely have an increased appreciation for China because I saw family that I’d never seen before,he said.But beyond China itself, I think I have an appreciation for the world. I realized that the people beyond our borders are friendly and nice and just like you and me. In the end, we’re all people.

Overseas study Changes policies

The 2009 Sino-US Joint Statement declared that the United States would encourage more Americans to study in China, by sending 100,000 students in the coming four years. It is mentioned in the joint statement that the United States sends students to China on a large scale. Compared with the then 20,000 US students in China, 100,000 would equal a breakthrough. Actually, there is a continuous increase in the number of students studying in China, and overseas education in China has attracted extensive attention.

China has become the major country that sends students abroad: 178,900 students in 2008, followed by 229,300 students in 2009. Meanwhile, overseas education in China has a developed rapidly, despite its smaller scale than sending students abroad.Indeed, China has ranked among a few countries whose international students have grown dramatically.Between 2001 and 2008, the average annual growth rate was over 20%, and the annual net growth reached 30,000. The year 2008 was a landmark, when international students first exceeded 200,000 and increased by 14.32% over the previous year. The number of international students in 2008 was 180 times that of 1978 (1,200), 38 times that of 1988 (5,835), and five times that of 1998 (43,084).

Overseas education in China has also become more diversified. International students enrolled in non-formal programmes usually take Chinese-language training or short-term study, not for the purpose of earning a degree. The proportion of international students enrolled in formal programmes has increased yearly, while the proportion enrolled in non-formal programmes has declined.In 2004, among all 110,844 international students, the percentage of students in non-formal programmes accounted for 71.5%, but this dropped to 64.2 percent in 2008, when the total number was 223,499. Meanwhile, the proportion of students in formal programmes increased from 28.5% in 2004 to 35.8% in 2008.

Institutions enrolling international students have also been increasing. There were 23 academic institutions with international students in 1979, 55 in 1984, more than 330 in 1997, 363 in 2001 and 420 in 2004. In 2008, institutions' numbers grew to 592.Besides regular institutions of higher education, many research institutes and other types of educational institutions admit international students, such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China Civil Aviation Management Institute. Private institutions, such as Beijing Geely University, also enrol international students.

Overseas education helps China develop partnerships with other countries. From 1950 to 2000, China trained more than 360,000 international students, who later became experts in science and technology, education, diplomacy and administration in their sending countries.Among students who studied in China, a few served as prime ministers, some worked in ministerial positions, hundreds were appointed professor or associate professor, and thousands were engaged in cultural, economic and trade cooperation with China.Briefly, overseas education in China has contributed to developing and consolidating China's political, diplomatic, economic and trade cooperation with the outside world, as well as to conducting cultural, educational and personnel exchanges.Overseas education strengthens China's national 'soft power'. International students become 'bridges' to enhance friendship among people across countries. A majority of international students became professionals, promoting mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and foreign youth. A large number of international students understand China well.

Overseas education in China has enhanced soft power through training international students who develop positive attitudes toward China, disseminate Chinese language and culture, expand the country's international influence, enhance its image and improve its management level, among other aspects.Further, overseas education promotes the construction of world-class universities. China's top universities are the main institutions recruiting international students. These students bring new and different ideas, activate the academic atmosphere, enrich cultural diversity and expand the internationalisation of universities. Overseas education encourages China's universities to improve quality and enhance their international reputation.Overseas education also leads to economic gains. Based on the estimate of a task force of Peking University, long-term international students create a direct annual income in China of about US$0.96 billion to US$1.15 billion, while short-term students contribute US$0.09 billion. The two types of students create a direct annual income in China of about US$1.05 billion to US$1.24 billion.

Besides direct income, other spending includes transport fees and rental charges, as well as consumption spurred by scholarships. Moreover, overseas education in China drives economic growth in some related sectors and creates job opportunities.Despite progress, however, there are problems in the further development of overseas education in China.The academic level of overseas education is relatively low. In 2008, among the 80,005 international students in formal programmes, undergraduate students accounted for 81.1%. Graduate students made up a comparatively low proportion, only 6.4% of total international students.There is a major gap in the level between China and some developed countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and France. For example, almost half of international students in the United States enrol in graduate education programmes.

garding fields of study, a high proportion of international students major in humanities and social sciences: 80%. In 2008, international students studying Chinese language and literature accounted for 55.7% followed by other majors such as Western medicine, economics, business, science, traditional Chinese medicine and engineering.The largest number of international students come from the top10 sending countries, eight of them in Asia. Furthermore, international students in China mainly came from South Korea, the United States, Japan, India and Vietnam.China's current regulations and policies cannot adapt to the development of overseas education. The Regulations on Higher Education Institutions Admitting International Students, issued in 2000, are quite outdated. Institutional autonomy for recruiting international students is inadequate.

For further development of overseas education in China, the government is implementing new policies. The scale of international students will expand. According to the Outline of China's National Plan for Medium and Long-Term Education Reform and Development (2010-2020), China will become the biggest hosting country in Asia and a major world destination for international students.Maintaining an annual growth rate of 7%, international student numbers will reach 500,000 by 2020. The Chinese government and universities are making efforts to create conditions for enhancing the proportion of international students in campuses.The scale and magnitude of government scholarship will be strengthened. China will build a scholarship framework, in which central government plays a major role, and expand the scale and magnitude of scholarships gradually.

The government plans to skew scholarships toward key universities, disciplines, and programmes, and balance their distribution among sending countries. Local governments, higher education institutions and enterprises are being encouraged to establish various forms of scholarships. A foundation programme system will be established.China is perfecting the Chinese Language Proficiency Test examination system, to improve international students' Chinese-language ability before departure so that they will be better prepared for study in China. The government encourages universities that have language policies to use English, fully or in part, as a teaching medium to foreign students. China has constructed a programme system for overseas undergraduate students, to guarantee appropriate study.

A favourable policy environment is emerging. The government was planning to amend the Regulations on Higher Education Institutions Admitting International Students to explicitly stipulate the responsibilities, rights and obligations of students and institutions.The Ministry of Education has been modifying and perfecting other policies, so as to normalise administration and education for international students, and ensure enrolment, visa application, study, graduation and other steps connect well.China has become the major country sending students abroad - 178,900 students in 2008, followed by 229,300 students in 2009. From 1950 to 2000, China trained more than 360,000 international students, who later became experts in science and technology, education, diplomacy and administration in their sending countries.The making and implementation of new policies cannot succeed without the initiative of universities that are critical stakeholders of overseas education. In order to attract more qualified international students and improve the quality of overseas education in China, the government and universities are working together to build a policy alliance.