The latest official survey shows that 80 percent of the Chinese students now studying abroad will return to their homeland to start a career. Interestingly however, in the 17 years from 1978 to 1995, China sent a total of 250,000 students abroad, but only about 80,000 of them came back. There are three major reasons causing more Chinese students abroad choose to go back after graduation.

Firstly, the tremendous opportunities offered by China's fast-growing economy attract these Chinese students from abroad. In the 80s, when Chinese standard of living level lagged far behind developed countries, few people had the chance to study abroad, and after finishing their studies, they sometimes chose to seek jobs and then stayed abroad. Now a huge change has happened in China. Through entry into the World Trade Organization, China is fast growing and full of potential. For example, in my hometown---Shanghai, the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) surpassed US$4000 in 2000. During the recent ten years, Shanghai built a lot of new urban constructions, such as two Shanghai’s Metro Line, Pudong International Airport, and Shanghai International Convention Center. Also, the city residents’ living conditions improved a lot. Now Shanghai’s living space per capita has reached 12.1 square meters, up 5.5 square meters comparing to 1990. For example, my family moved into our new house six years ago and I owned my big bedroom. Also, an average Shanghai employee’s monthly income stood of 1600 yuan in 2002. According to spot check, in 2001 the average disposable income of the urban residents reached 12,883, up 9.9% year-on-year. An average Shanghai resident’s deposit in bank reached 22,600 yuan. Furthermore, according to the new development plan, Shanghai will continue its economic reforms and further adjust its industrial structure. The economy will maintain its rapid annual growth rate of 9 to 11 percent in each of the next five years. Its GDP will have grown to 730 billion yuan (US$88.06 billion) by 2005. What a nice development opportunities! Many returned students are now making economic miracles in China with the knowledge they learned overseas. More than 1000 returned overseas students with advanced high-tech qualifications have settled down in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, establishing over 150 enterprises with a registered capital of US$30 million. Zhang Chao Yang, founder of the famous website sohu.com, is the best example. In the past two years, his company has become one of the country’s best-known success stories.

Second, the Chinese government is carrying out preferential policies to improve the environment and provide opportunities for overseas students. For example, in Beijing, the government has set up a special zone for the returned students to start their new careers. Also, it offered a lot of preferential policies for them, like the reduction or exemption of taxation of their firms within a certain period. Sometimes, they can get a special fund to set up their projects.

Finally, missing home leads to a lot of students studying abroad to choose to go back. In the past, chasing more comfortable lives caused a lot of Chinese students to leave their hometown; study abroad and remain there; however, they continually paid attention to their hometowns’ information. They hoped they could contribute their talents in order to help their hometown to be stronger.

Overall, because of Chinese economic development, more Chinese students abroad choose to go back after graduation instead of staying. As an international student, I also have a latent love for my homeland, so I want to contribute my energy to my hometown’s development. I will study hard, and after I graduate, I am going to go back to my hometown-- Shanghai and find a job in a developing company as an accountant in order to accumulate some experience. After several years, I want to set up my own business and do some international trade around the world. I hope I can help my hometown get more foreign exchanges, and accelerate the pace of economic growth.

The information came from www.chinadaily.com.cn and www.shanghai.gov.cn.

April 2003