Finding Employment in China: The Return of International Students
Introduction
Education is a very important factor in the success of a nation. All nations around the world pay particular attention in its effective implementation and the improvement of education, for education is one of the foundations in establishing a great government. The common factor of developed countries, such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan, is a good educational background, and an excellent attitude towards learning.
Today, with the advancement of technology and the fast-paced changes happening in the society, many countries also seek ways to improve their economy and society. One of these ways is the establishment of a good educational background, including in China. This paper seeks to discuss the current situation in the economy and in the society of China, to properly assess the need for studying of students abroad. This also enables us to assess the possibility of finding employment in China, after studying abroad and to see the opportunities offered by the country for employment.
Economy of China
(2006) reports that there is a continuous change in the economic balance of China, and provides evidence on the country’s rip-roaring growth. Gross domestic product increased by 9.9% last year, down slightly from 10.1% growth in 2004, and a 9.2% increase this year ( 2006). The biggest drive for the growth of the Chinese economy is the domestic demand, rather than exports, which tripled the country’s trade surplus in 2005, to more than 0 billion (2006).
Several factors are said to be influencing this comprehensive, harmonious, and sustainable shift in the economy of China. One of these factors is the tapering off of the “WTO effect”, which took advantage of the manufacturing capacity and the new access to overseas market of China, when it joined the World Trade Association. Today, this kind of investment boom is already slowing, giving China the chance to grow exports by less than 20% this year. Other factors helped the export of China slowdown, such as the modest strengthening of the yuan, which has cut its exports from low-margin industries, such as textiles. In addition, the government relaxed some macro-tightening measures introduced in 2004, convincing certain manufacturers to sell abroad more aggressively when domestic markets dried up. These measures affected the income generated by China, including its investments, and the increasing income of China’s 800 million rural residents (2006).
However, despite the economic growth and changes experienced by China today, a lot of problems and issues are still in line. Problems include better education, health care and pensions, for most nervous Chinese today put too much money into “precautionary savings”, for most of them know the cost of a health care bill, of sending their kids to school, and of old age, knowing that there is no pension system for 80% of the Chinese people (2006). These problems, including low incomes, poor health care, lack of education and illiteracy (2003), give each the opportunity to realize a future and a greater chance of survival, when a good, quality education is obtained from universities abroad.
Advantages of Studying Abroad
Given the economic condition and the challenges faced by China, many individuals specifically students, see the value of good quality education. It is a fact that the Chinese education does not promote the English language, so many Chinese tend to seek English tutors or attend universities that teach English to learn the English language. This is because at the back of their minds, learning English can increase their competitive advantage compared to non-English speaking individuals, in their goal to a successful future. This is why, many Chinese seek the educational guidance from international universities in many different countries.
It has been reported that besides lower costs, studying in international universities offers the excitement of living abroad (2006). This gives the foreign student the chance to see a different world and experience many new adventures in living in a new environment ( 2006). This includes living with new friends and living in new houses, including dormitories or apartments. Studying abroad boosts the confidence of the student in relating with different types of people in a variety of culture and practices. In addition, the foreign student can also be exposed to different cultures, and know and recognize their existence.
Moreover, a degree abroad can also offer that extra edge in an increasingly competitive and global job market (2006). This just means that many individuals see the student as a knowledgeable and intelligent individual, to be meeting the educational standards abroad. This will give the person a chance to show his or her skills in the country and contribute to the many aspects of the economy, education or industry.
Furthermore, studying at universities abroad also give the chance for the student to become aware of other languages in the country, and of course, learning and even mastering the English language. This is important because the English language is the primary means of communication in relating to other business organizations.
Going Back to China
After studying abroad for several years and obtaining a degree from a university, a graduate would be re-assessing the opportunities of employment in China. The Information Office of the State Council of China reports their latest employment situation and policies, and states that from 1990 to 2003, the employed population in China increased by 96.83 million, with the number of employees reaching 218.09 million (2004). Similarly, from 1990 to 2003, the number of those employed by urban individual and private economic entities increased by 35.96 million, representing 46.5% of the newly employed in the urban areas in the same period, while at the end of 2003, the registered unemployment rate in the urban areas was 4.3%, and the number of registered jobless urbanities was eight million (2004). In 2004, the Chinese government has planned to find employment or re-employment for nine million people, and re-employment for five million laid-off persons, which results to an unemployment rate in the urban areas to be controlled at around 4.7% ( 2004).
In addition, even China, which is experiencing a tremendous labor force growth, is at the same time faced with a potential skills shortage (2005). The Ministry of Education projects China will need 100 million additional people skilled in computer programming and software in the coming years, for as China’s workforce evolves from basic assembly to more skills-intensive work, they already recognize that the education of their workforce will need to quickly adjust to meet the need (2005). This means that the international students can opt to take up computer programming or software programming as their course abroad, to possibly give them the chance to work back in China. By the time they finish studying, China will have good demands for computer and software programmers, thus, giving them the edge of getting the position. Owing to the good quality education obtained abroad, he or she can be regarded as an outstanding individual back in China, being able to have the necessary knowledge needed in the position. Moreover, employers in China will be impressed with his or her credentials, not only knowledgeable but learned in the universal language, the English language. This would somehow guarantee the fresh graduate the position, for the company would hire him or her to become a negotiator or spokesperson of the company when dealing with foreign business executives.
Furthermore, obtaining education abroad can give the graduate the chance to teach in China, for most citizens, especially students, crave for new information and knowledge. The graduate can be guaranteed of employment in various universities in China, and be able to share his or her skills and knowledge in specific subjects, such as biology, math, English, and many others. In teaching students, the graduate from the international school can pass on and share the things he or she learned from the university. This would lead to the improvement of the education and the curriculum in China, which would spare many parents to send their children abroad to study.
In addition, due to the various crisis experienced by China, it also affects the higher labor force, especially in technology and health care. Driven by technological advancement, the economy is continuously demanding higher levels of training and knowledge across jobs in every sector, and advances, such as in nanotechnology and biotechnology are expected to have a large effect on China’s economy in the next several decades (2005). This would also foster more and new staffing demands (2005) that would enable many graduate students from international schools to get the slots. As such, students also have options to either take up a health care related course, such as nursing, medicine or physical therapy, which would be very helpful and contributing to the society and economy of China. The advanced technology used in other countries can largely contribute to the improvement of health care in China and with research and development as well.
Conclusion
The economic situation of China presented in the paper leads us to conclude that despite the growth it experiences, there are still challenges or problems that enable China to seek other alternative remedies. Graduates from international schools around the world can still go back to China to contribute to finding solutions regarding the problems of unemployment, health care, lack of education and poverty. They can apply the knowledge and expertise they have acquired from the university to be able to help the desolate citizens in China. They can contribute to the education, health care, research and development, technology, law implementation, and many other aspects in the society.
The gathered information is helpful because these data can serve as my inspiration to make good at my studies. This information drives me to become more serious in the course that I am taking up, for in the future, I will be one of those individuals to return to China and contribute to its further development. This information also boosts the morale of international students like me to go back to China for guaranteed employment. If this happens, then more and more citizens will be able to study abroad to obtain valuable information, knowledge and learning, which in turn, would largely contribute to the success and economic growth of China, being able to produce socially competitive and intelligent citizens, who would help boost its economy and society.
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