Big Showing of Canadian Schools at China Education Expo 2012
The China Education Expo 2012 kicked off yesterday in Beijing, attracting more than 500 overseas institutions and education bureaus from 38 countries and regions across the world, with new national faces stepping into the world’s largest recruitment market.
The number of national pavilions presenting their countries’ academic opportunities reached a record 21, including educational powers like Canada, the US, Britain, Germany and Spain, said Zong Wa, deputy secretary-general of China Education Association for International Exchange.
The annul expo wraps up its Beijing show on Sunday and moves on to tour six other major mainland cities (including Shanghai next weekend) before ending in Guangzhou on November 3.
Institutions from the UK and the US both numbered more than 80. And Canada, a longtime hot destination for Chinese students, had the most exhibitors with 94. The expo held at the China Exhibition Hall filled two floors, with schools from Canada and the US occupying the entire second floor.
About 20 regional education bureaus from Canada came to attract Chinese students for primary and high school education.
“Our schools already have a large number of Chinese students and there is not enough room. I think in the future we are going to select students, as opposed to recruiting anyone who applies,” said Shawn Silverstone, assistant manager of Surrey Schools international education department.
According to the Ministry of Education, the number of Chinese students studying abroad has seen an annual growth rate of 19.19 per cent, jumping from 118,500 students in 2005 to 339,700 in 2011. The number is expected to reach 400,000 this year.
– China Daily