African Students’ Satisfaction in China: From the Perspectives of China-Africa Educational Cooperation

Abstract

The number of African students in China has significantly increased in the last two decades. This trend is closely related to China's engagement with Africa in all aspects and insufficient provision of higher education in many African countries. This study examines the degree to which African students are satisfied with their study and life experiences at a Chinese university through a mixed-methods approach. The findings indicate that African students are generally satisfied with their experiences and the extent to their satisfaction in teaching dimensions is higher than that in administrative dimensions. However, teacher's English proficiency, interaction between faculty and students, internship opportunities, and administration service quality have lower levels of satisfaction that could be improved. In regard to factors affecting satisfaction, African students’ Chinese language proficiency level and the length of stay in China both influence their experiences. Additionally, the study discovers that self-funded students frequently have greater financial pressure and higher expectations for their study. The conclusion presents the research implications for enhancing the quality of Chinese higher education internationalization.