International students contribute $24.7 billion to the U.S. economy annually. Chinese students make up 29% of international students bringing in an estimated $7.16 billion to the U.S. economy.
Town of Thompson, NY (PRWEB) October 03, 2014
Recently, the Hurun Research Institute released their 2014 Paper on Chinese Investment Immigration. The report shows that, in China, the United States is the most popular nation that wealthy immigrants apply to enter. The education system, the environment and the quality and safety of food are three of the main factors for the U.S. being chosen over other nations. Furthermore, as a traditional immigration nation, founded by immigrants, the U.S. has many Chinese communities, and social attitudes towards immigrants are generally friendly due to the country’s diversity. In addition to these social and educational benefits of moving to the United States, the U.S. government has a very attractive immigration policy which is mature and stable.
Aside from Chinese immigrants benefiting from the strong educational system of the United States, they also help to stimulate the U.S. economy. According to the Institute of International Education and the U.S. Department of Commerce, international students contribute $24.7 billion to the U.S. economy annually. Of this spending, 64% comes directly from their personal and family funds as many universities don’t offer financial aid for foreign students. This percentage is even higher at 80% for undergraduate students. This economic influx comes from tuition, room and board, text books/supplies, transportation, health insurance, and other miscellaneous living expenses. According to University World News, Chinese students make up 29% of international students bringing in an estimated $7.16 billion to the U.S. economy.
China City of America’s initial phase is an education center. The goal of the education center is to fuse Eastern and Western education systems, diversifying education development in the future. To this end, the center will employ excellent faculties from the United States, and enroll students from both China and the U.S. This will allow American and Chinese students to get a unique learning experience through this program, getting prepared first and then fully immersing into the international atmosphere. There will also be student activities in various arts, sports and technologies to ensure that there is a platform to assist in the integration of Chinese and Western cultures for international students.
The plan is to build a smart community at the education center, utilizing cutting-edge technology to enhance both learning and the everyday life experiences on campus. This goal will be realized with the cooperation from universities in both the United States and China to form a new Chinese and Western cultural and educational exchange platform.
Phase 1 of the project is located in the Town of Thompson. The chairman, Sherry Li, said that together with their U.S. education partner, the education center has planned project activities which includes the mainstream "2 + 2" program, the "1 + 1 + 2” program, as well as a high school degree equivalence program, short-term training and EMBA presidential classes.
The "2 + 2" program is also called the "dual campus project of international cooperation." This program will provide a phased, adaptive chance to go abroad to pursue a college education for high school graduates. This will be accomplished through the modules of cooperative education, joint support, and mutual recognition of credits among both Chinese and American universities taking part in the program. Students will begin by taking English courses along with specialized courses in China for two years. Once this is complete, they will then study at the education center in the United States and get a bachelor's degree at one of the U.S. universities partnered with the education center. After graduation, graduates can choose to return home or to stay abroad and continue their pursuit of a master's degree in a graduate program.
For high school graduates, the "2 + 2" program will ensure that students have enough buffering and transition time during the two years in China to cultivate independent learning and life skills. This will allow students to get ready in the English language and mentally prepare to study abroad. The "1 + 1 + 2” program is similar, but will have students study in China for the first year followed by one year at the education center in the United States. Then they will spend the last two years at the college campus in the U.S. where their bachelor’s degree would be attained. This program was created for students that want to study at the education center, but want to focus on a major not offered there.
There will also be a program that would provide students with an equivalent to a High School degree. This is basically a prep school to prepare students to study for a bachelor’s degree and improve their English speaking skills. After this program is completed, the “2 + 2” or “1 + 1 + 2” program would be a viable option to achieve one’s bachelor degree at a U.S university. The short-term training classes would include vocational schools, teaching students a trade and allowing them to earn a certificate for that particular skill. The EMBA will work with reputable Chinese and U.S. Universities to enroll students in an Executive MBA program to further advance their career.
With the number of Chinese immigrants that wish to study in the U.S., the education center has a unique opportunity to create an educational atmosphere that fosters education, while bringing cutting-edge infrastructure to fruition. This infrastructure alongside the programs that will be put in place will prepare the students for life after college and will help them to learn and graduate with a degree in their field of choice.
1. Hurun Research Institute, http://www.hurun.net/en/ArticleShow.aspx?nid=1502, June 6, 2014
2. Institute of International Education, http://iie.org/en/Research-and-Publications/Open-Doors/Data/Economic-Impact-of-International-Students