Trends in Chinese Education White Paper 2021

This White Paper is an annual review of trends in the Chinese education landscape in the past year and predictions for the future, by Sunrise International Education. Sunrise International supports overseas education institutions and companies in engaging the Chinese market, and our team of researchers, event managers, and educators is pleased to share our analysis of the most memorable year in our industry and identify trends that we expect to shape international education in China for years to come.

New international schools

New international schools continue to open in China, despite unique pandemic-related setbacks, and most of the new schools are private international schools. Enrollment at these schools continues to grow, although growth in enrollments slowed down last year.

Offline college fairs

Offline college fairs are slowly but surely coming back, with 70 private sector offline fairs planned for 2021, and universities willing to send representatives or alumni to recruitment fairs and school visits are getting enthusiastic welcomes. We expect international travel barriers to slowly ease over the coming year for overseas admissions officers.

China’s economy

China's economy is doing very well compared to most countries, especially in the regions that account for China’s international education market. Steady economic growth and property markets in big tier 1, 2, and many tier 3 cities mean that the cost of studying overseas is still manageable for most families; only those working in SMEs and pandemic-prone industries like tourism will become more price sensitive.

Preferences for study destinations

Preferences for study destinations are evolving as families place greater emphasis on safety and predictability in a host country, accelerating a previous trend towards more diversity in the countries where Chinese students plan to study. However, families also consider safety holistically, including issues of racism, gun violence, and perceptions of how welcome Chinese students are in their host country.

The Chinese edtech sector

The Chinese edtech sector is booming on the heels of massive user growth and unprecedented amounts of investment. We’re keeping our eye on edtech companies, particularly the large and well-financed ones, who might be entering the international recruitment space.

Agents

Agents had a tough year in 2020, as 20% went bankrupt. The biggest and the smallest agencies weathered the storm the best, while mid-sized companies struggled. Student numbers and revenues are recovering this year, particularly as the pandemic has added layers of complexity and uncertainty in overseas admissions.

Test-optional admissions

The pandemic accelerated the trend toward test-optional admissions, and this is welcome news to many students. However, doubts remain among families about whether newly test optional universities will stay test optional and whether submitting a test score will confer an advantage in admissions.

Download the full paper here. For more personalized advice and insights, email contact@sieconnection.com.