Reflection on the Impact of COVID-19 on International Education Landscape and Plan of Students’ Choice for Study Destination
China’s Case
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/jcihe.v15i2.4035Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemic, international higher education, student mobility, China's destinationAbstract
The COVID-19 has affected and continues to impact several areas of human life and activity. With a particular focus on China, this reflection shares authors’ observation on how COVID-19 may affect international higher education landscape and future trends of students’ choice for study destinations. As internationals, one a PhD student and the other an assistant lecturer, we draw upon insights from recent research on the impact of COVID-19 on higher education and our observation. The observation revealed that the impact of COVID-19, in a context of nationalism rise and economic tension between China and many foreign countries, might not be of big impact on China as a host country. The successful battle China has been leading and keeping the situation under control, so far, reassures international students to consider China as rather a safe and protective destination for a future study plan. The reflection further revealed that the declining interest of Chinese students to study abroad after COVID-19 will rather empower the home country both in terms of economic income and scientific contribution. This reflection is one of the few studies investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the international higher education landscape and the future trend of students’ choice for study destination by looking into China as a host country. The study has relevant policy implications on understanding and informing international education actors of the change that may occur on the international higher education landscape and the trend in student mobility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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