East Asia, China and the ‘Asianisation’ of Mobility

Abstract

This chapter explores more fully many of the themes discussed in the first chapter regarding the relationship between the emergence of the Asian region as the source of global student mobility and its rising economic power. The dimensions of the growing economic power and prosperity in the East Asia region are discussed, with an exploration of how students in the Asia Pacific region and its institutions are emerging as new destinations for Asian students. Aligned with the notion of centres being education hubs, many nations, most notably China and Japan, have embarked on ambitious and wide-ranging improvement programs in higher education institutions designed to enhance the international reputation of their institutions. This chapter describes the dimensions of some of these developments and the development of offshore campus in the Asia Pacific by some of the major European, American and Australasian universities. The authors argue that the growing presence of international education in the region providers offers students the advantages of cheaper tuition and living costs and easier visa conditions than in the West and the advantage of an overseas qualification in closer proximity to home.