Abstract
In 2018, tensions between China and the US became increasingly heightened through escalation of the US-China trade war. This case study examines the impact of this trade war on Chinese students’ desired study abroad location. Through surveying 596 Chinese students and interviewing 40 Chinese students planning to study abroad. The article examines to what extent the trade war influenced their decision regarding which country they desired to pursue further education. Additionally, the case study explores closely related issues designed to better understand how the student is affected by the Chinese media environment. Highlighted issues include whether the trade war will affect the students’ purchases of foreign-made consumer goods, how students obtain their news regarding the trade war, and to what extent students’ views differ from their parents. Findings indicate that these political events have not had a significant impact on educational preferences, but have influenced consumer good choices. The research also re-examines student motivating factors and suggests specific strategies to maximize Chinese student enrollment in foreign higher learning institutions.
Highlights
Chinese students studying abroad As of 2018, one in three international students in the U.S hailed from China, totalling over 360,000 students and bringing in an estimated $14 billion per year (OECD 2014; Fischer 2019; IIE 2018; Redden 2019; Reuters 2019)
Most students (78%) considered the cost of international education to be too high for their families and about 12% were intimidated by the language requirements of foreign education
Despite considerable propaganda from Chinese state media, students did not seem to be adversely influenced to a significant degree by the events of the trade war in the area of education in either the interviews or the survey
Summary
Chinese students studying abroad As of 2018, one in three international students in the U.S hailed from China, totalling over 360,000 students and bringing in an estimated $14 billion per year (OECD 2014; Fischer 2019; IIE 2018; Redden 2019; Reuters 2019). For many universities, these students’ tuition dollars subsidize or enable existing programs and for some, are required to maintain solvency (Musgrave 2019; Magnier and Bases 2019). This research revealed that features of the study environment and nature of the degree were the strongest pull factors for Chinese students at the time
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