1. Factors influencing international
students’ decisions to enroll at a
Anglo-Chinese joint-venture
university.
Andrys Onsman,
School of Education, University of Nottingham

2. Presentation Outline
1. International Students in China
2. What is a joint-venture higher education
provider?
3. Why do the former enroll in the latter?
4. What can we extrapolate?
Andrys Onsman, School of Education, University of Nottingham, Ningbo China

3.  In 2006 there were 162,695 international students
studying in China. In 2010 there were more than
265,000.
 The top provider countries were Republic of Korea,
the United States, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia,
Indonesia, India, Kazakhstan and Pakistan. France
and Mongolia also provided more than 5000
students each.
 107,432 were studying for academic degrees,
whilst 157,658 were pursuing non-degree
education.
 http://www.moe.gov.cn/publicfiles/business/htmlfiles/moe/moe_2
809/201103/115886.html
Andrys Onsman, School of Education, University of Nottingham, Ningbo China

4. UNNC is a joint-venture between The University of
Nottingham and Zhejiang Wanli University.
Any JV HEI in China must:
Have a physical presence
Have a Chinese national as president
Have more than half of the board Chinese
Not make profit for the foreign partner
Contribute to China’s development
Comply with all national, provincial and municipal
ordinances
Deliver foreign badged testamurs
Deliver qualifications that ensure foreign professional
registration
Andrys Onsman, School of Education, University of Nottingham, Ningbo China

5.  The University of Nottingham Ningbo China
in 2011 had 262 international students,
coming from Russia (35), Indonesia (27),
Taiwan (16), Malaysia (14) and Hong Kong
(10). None from USA, India, Japan, or Korea.
 The university has ambitions to grow its
international student intake substantially.
The plan to have 25% by 2015 means an
increase to 2000.
 In order to do that we need to know why
they come.
Andrys Onsman, School of Education, University of Nottingham, Ningbo China

6. The literature suggests that the reasons are;
◦ They are concerned about the quality of the
education.
◦ They want to enjoy a ‘China experience”
◦ They want a British degree.
◦ They are concerned about the ranking of the
university.
◦ They are concerned about costs.
These factors also apply for local students.
Andrys Onsman, School of Education, University of Nottingham, Ningbo China

7. Why do they come to UNNC?
The survey told us
1. To get a British degree
2. To experience China
3. To get a good education
Nottingham University School of Education is ranked amongst the top ten in the world !

8. A selection of interesting outcomes
 That the degree be awarded by the overseas partner and
recognised in that country was intended to benefit Chinese
students but is also attractive to international students.
 Experiencing China seems to be shifting from mainly a
cultural attractor to mainly an economic/business attractor.
 Nearly half of the international students had done no due
diligence as to the quality of their course.
 A third of the ISs heard about UNNC by word of mouth;a
quarter on-line; a quarter through an agent and 10% at an
education fair.
Nottingham University School of Education is ranked amongst the top ten in the world !

9. Much of where China is headed is articulated in
China's National Plan for Medium and
Long-term Education Reform and
Development. (2010-2020).
Nottingham University School of Education is ranked amongst the top ten in the world !

10. Thank you for your attention.
Andrys Onsman
Nottingham University School of Education is ranked amongst the top ten in the world !