British universities worry about Chinese students cancelling their study plans
China News Agency, London, July 16 (Cui Hanting and Zhang Ping) A research institute of a British university issued a report on the 15th. British universities are generally concerned that Chinese students are canceling the autumn course plan due to the new crown virus epidemic, causing British universities to face huge economic losses.
Information figure: citizens submit visa-related materials at the British Visa Application Centre in Beijing. China News Service reporter Hou Yushe
A research report released by the British Institute for Higher Education Policy (HEPI) on the same day indicates that the number of Chinese students studying abroad may be significantly reduced from the current 120,000. The "optimistic" estimate is a 12% drop, and British universities will reduce £460 million in funding income And the pessimistic result is that 61% of Chinese students will cancel courses, British universities will reduce their income by 2.3 billion pounds and face huge economic losses.
According to the research report, the overseas tuition fees paid by British universities are higher than that of domestic students. Chinese students are the largest group of overseas students in British universities, accounting for a maximum of 35%. The annual tuition and accommodation fees are about 4 billion pounds.
Researcher Dr. Miguel Antonio Lin said, "Social media has been widely reported that many British people do not follow the'social distance guide' and don't wear masks in public." Chinese students and parents The death toll from the UK epidemic was shocked, and the UK is one of the most deadly countries in the world."
According to the research report, most parents of Chinese students have repeatedly emphasized that epidemic prevention and safety is their primary consideration now.
"Parents worry about the safety of their children is understandable." Miguel Antonio Lin believes, "For many Chinese students, living and studying abroad will be a rare opportunity in life, but at present, they are safe and learning about themselves. Worried about the quality of the experience."
Vivienne Stern, the director of the International College of the British University, is worried. "We don't know how many Chinese students will come here next fall." "If the economy experiences a severe downturn, it will have a very serious impact on university finances. influences".
Nick Hillman, director of the British Higher Education Policy Research Institute, said that British universities are economically dependent on Chinese students, "If they don’t come again, the bottom line of funding for British universities will be difficult to maintain, which will be the worst. Happening". (Finish)