HONG KONG, Nov. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent survey
"Understanding Hong Kong and Mainland university students'
intentions to study overseas after the COVID-19 crisis," conducted
by the School of Graduate Studies of Lingnan University (LU) finds that only 16 per
cent of respondents have plans to pursue postgraduate studies
abroad. In addition, Hong Kong is
the second most popular post-COVID study destination, just behind
the US and ahead of the UK. The research team points out that the
pandemic is shifting the mobility flow of international students,
and that East Asian countries and regions are facing more
opportunities in the increasingly competitive higher education
sector for international students.
The online survey, which asks university students in Hong Kong
and the Mainland to share their overseas study plans and preferred
study destinations after COVID-19 pandemic, was conducted between
late April and early May 2020. A total of 2,739 valid responses
were collected.
Most of the respondents (84%) showed no interest in studying
abroad after the pandemic, while only 16 per cent of respondents
would consider pursuing further education overseas.
For those respondents who express willingness to pursue further
degrees abroad, the top five most popular study destinations are
the US (17%), Hong Kong (13.4%),
the UK (12.2%), Japan (10.8%), and
Taiwan (10.8%). The five
least-preferred study destinations are France (3.3%), New
Zealand (3.3%), South Korea
(3.04%), Malaysia (0.94%), and
Italy (0.94%).
Dr Xiong Weiyan, Research Assistant Professor of School of
Graduate Studies and Programme Director of Master of Arts in
International Higher Education and Management, said that the
survey results indicate that Hong Kong and Taiwan are the "winners" and they will expect
more Chinese students due to their proximity to Mainland China.
About one-third of respondents prefer to study in Asian countries
and regions including Hong Kong,
Taiwan and Japan. Because COVID-19 may cause a crisis of
instability, students may want to stay in neighbouring regions in
which they can easily retreat to the homeland when necessary. In
addition, health and safety become students' primary concerns, and
their parents hope they can be near to them. On the contrary, the
travel restrictions and border control of major study destinations
like the US and the UK make it almost impossible for Chinese
students to study there physically.
Prof Joshua Mok Ka-ho,
Vice-President of LU who led the study, said that despite
their worsening outbreak, traditional countries for overseas
education such as the US and the UK will retain their
attractiveness due to the reputation of their higher education
sector. However, it is noteworthy that the number of Chinese
higher education students in the UK seems to be declining, and that
Anglophone countries such as Australia, Canada, and New
Zealand are no longer on the top of the list as they used
to. Prof Mok believes that the better crisis management of
governments in Asia when
combatting the COVID-19 in terms of preventive measures is the main
reason for such a shift.
Personal safety and security will become a major factor
influencing students' study decision. Media, especially social
media (e.g., YouTube), reports of discrimination against Chinese
people in Australia might
discourage prospective students from studying in the country. It
could also explain why Japan and
Taiwan have become more popular:
parents of prospective students believe their children will be
safer there. Some higher education institutions may face the cruel
reality of closing down, especially those relying heavily upon fees
generated from international student bodies.
Prof Mok added that the achievement of universities in
Asia in research and
internationalisation could become a key consideration for Chinese
students. The COVID-19 pandemic provides a precious opportunity for
universities to enhance regional collaborations. He suggested that
academic leaders in Hong Kong
should further develop appropriate strategies to attract more
students from the Greater Bay Area and work more closely with
universities in the Area to promote innovation-centric
entrepreneurship.
For media enquiries, please contact the Office of Communications
and Public Affairs of Lingnan
University:
Ms Blue Wong
Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer
Office of Communications and Public Affairs
Lingnan University
Tel: +852-2616 8964 / 9280 3381
Fax: +852-2838 1601
Email: bluewong@LN.edu.hk
Ms Bernice Wong
Manager (Communications & Public Affairs)
Office of Communications and Public Affairs
Lingnan University
Tel: +852-2616 8988 / 6676 6956
Fax: +852-2838 1601
Email: bernicewong@LN.edu.hk
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