China sends more students abroad, absorbs record high

In 2010, the total number of Chinese students studying abroad reached up to 284,700, those who returned from abroad numbered 134,800, and China is attracting more international students than ever before, according to data released by the Ministry of Education on March. 2.

According to data from the ministry, the number of Chinese students studying abroad and returning home increased by 55,400 and 26,500, respectively.

Students studying abroad at their own expense still account for the majority, followed by personnel sponsored by the government and employees sent by their companies.

Data showed from 1978 to 2010, the number of Chinese students studying abroad in all areas reached up to more than 1.9 million, 632,000 of whom returned China.

China is also becoming a hotspot for international students. According to the ministry, the number of foreign students studying in China rose to 265,090.

Those students come from 194 countries across the world and are scattered in 620 colleges, research institutes and other educational organizations in 31 provincial regions in China.

There were 22,390 international students who received government scholarships in 2010, representing a 22.72 percent growth.

Students from neighboring Asian countries took up more than 66 percent of the total, next were European, American and African students.

South Korea, the United States, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Pakistan were the top 10 countries that sent the most students to China.

It was reported that the Ministry of Education is taking steps to further optimize study environment and improve education quality in China to absorb 500,000 foreign students by 2020, which will make China the largest destination for international students in Asia.

By Li Mu, People's Daily Online