China to boost educational openness, increase academic exchanges at home and abroad

China will continue to expand its educational openness, encouraging students to study abroad while attracting international talent to pursue education in China, a senior official said at a major conference in Beijing.

The 2024 China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education, organized by the China Education Association for International Exchange, drew over 5,000 education professionals and diplomats from more than 60 countries. With the theme "Education for All, the Unknown, and the Future," the event featured forums, discussions, and exhibitions aimed at strengthening international educational partnerships.

Ding Zhongli, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in promoting educational reform, noting that China will continue to expand academic exchanges and research collaborations as part of its commitment to global educational development.

Allan Goodman, CEO of the US-based Institute of International Education, underscored the longstanding collaboration between China and the United States, home to the world's two largest higher education systems. Goodman noted that educational ties between the two nations date back to 1920, when China first became a leading source of international students in the United States.

Currently, nearly 300,000 Chinese students are studying in the United States, down from a peak of 372,000 in the 2018-19 academic year but showing signs of recovery, according to Jonah Kokodyniak, executive vice-president of Institute of International Education.

Kokodyniak said that 60 percent of US universities have reported an increase in applications from Chinese students for the 2024-25 academic year.

Among the Chinese students in the US, 43 percent are pursuing postgraduate studies, with a focus on STEM fields such as computer science and engineering, while 33 percent are enrolled in undergraduate programs, according to Kokodyniak.

Kokodyniak also highlighted a decline in the number of US students studying in China, with roughly 2,700 currently participating in exchange programs and about 2,800 pursuing full degrees at Chinese universities.

To address this gap, China launched a five-year initiative last November to bring 50,000 US youths to China for cultural exchanges and study opportunities. The program has already welcomed 12,000 US students in its first year — surpassing expectations and signaling growing interest among young Americans to study in China, according to Kokodyniak.

As student and parent concerns about the value of studying abroad and the return on educational investment rise, more targeted programs are expected to bridge education with career pathways. Kokodyniak suggested that internship opportunities could help students directly connect their academic experiences with professional aspirations.