Beijing, Sep 29 (IANS) China wants to become the most popular destination in Asia for overseas students within the next decade.
By 2020, the country hopes to attract 500,000 foreign students every year – 150,000 of whom will be in the college level, the ministry of education has said.
‘The plan outlines our tasks for the next 10 years,’ Hao Ping, vice minister of education, was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
To realise this target, the ministry will try to improve the quality of teachers, the design of education programmes and services for foreign students, Hao said.
Since the 1950s, China has received a total of 1.69 million foreign students.
‘In recent years, the number of foreign students in China has rapidly increased,’ said Zhang Xiuqin, director of the international department at the ministry.
In 2009, around 240,000 students from 190 countries studied in 610 Chinese schools across the country.
‘The growth is due to rise in China’s status, improvement in government administration, and better quality in higher education,’ Zhang said.
Some 12 Chinese provinces also provide scholarships for foreign students.
