Studying abroad is almost the dream of every student. The new environment, new custom, new race people around and all the orther new things has made abroad study become a mystery among students. Thus, Eu countries and US are the most popular countries to study abroad. It is quiet understandable because of the language.
However, studying in those countries are really costful. While China now got so many schools offering English instructed programs for international students; may be not people have a good knowledge of it the lack of publicity on their educational institutions.
"Apart from intermittent media reports on natural disasters, poverty and conflicts, not a lot of positive things were said about these countries, making it difficult for people outside their shores to place value on their activities and the relevance of their educational institutions.
The situation is, however, changing, thanks, mostly to the opening up of these countries to foreign counterparts in recent times.
Although Russia has been a long trusted partner to Ghana's medical community, not many people outside the health profession looked to it for educational tourism.
The same applied to Turkey, whose education sector is fast becoming a hot spot for Ghanaian and African students in general
In all of this, however, China is the biggest gainer.
Jiangsu University in perspective
China, which is currently competing with the USA for the number one spot in terms of economic might, has proven to be a good place to study for foreigners and most Africans. As a result, most Ghanaians are taking advantage of it to advance their education qualifications.
In China, one school that is benefiting immensely from this new trend is the Jiangsu University (JSU), where I have been schooling for the past six years.
Founded in 1902, JSU has grown to become one of the enviable schools in China and the most preferred for international students hoping to take advantage of the thriving Chinese education sector.
As of May, this year, foreign students in the school amounted to 1130 of which nearly half of them are Africans.
Out of that number, 289 are Ghanaians studying various undergraduate and postgraduate courses in various fields.
This compares favorably than other schools in China, where Ghanaians are just below 100.
So, how did JSU win the hearts of Ghanaian students over its counterparts and what are the lessons for education institutions and stakeholders in Ghana wishing to attract foreign brains into their facilities?
Moderate tuition fees and facilities
One area JSU has used to attract international students, especially those from Africa, is the school's moderate tuition fees.
Although the quality of tuition, school infrastructure and comfort for students is topnotch, the amount students pay for tuition is well below the average in most Chinese universities.
With money always being a barrier to education abroad, most students, including me, tend to be choosy in our search for schools abroad, using price as a main determinant.
Additionally, the school also offers a lot of scholarships to qualified students compared to its counterparts. This means that students who meet the criteria are most likely to win a scholarship at JSU than they would be in any other school in China.
As a result, many past and continuing international students tend to recommend the school their friends and family, whenever the issue of schooling abroad and scholarship comes up.
Also despite the school's modesty in charging students for tuition, its style of teaching is topnotch, with lectures always willing to take students through one-on-one lectures, whenever the need arises.
The school's laboratories are also well furnished and properly equipped all requirement equipment. This makes it possible for students to blend the theory with practical and experiments compared to other schools where equipment are virtual available.
Recreational facilities
Another area that endears JSU to most international students is its tolerance for recreational activities. As a way of blending academics with recreation, the school encourage competition among the Chinese students and their international colleagues in various sporting activities such as football, volleyball and basket ball.
Leadership skills is being inculcated in students as the school has an international students representative council, electoral commission and many other departmental unions. Those students interested in leading any of the above mentioned unions go through a healthy and democratic process from picking up nomination forms, verting and campaigning. Ballot papers are then printed and the entire international student body participate in voting. This is one of a kind I have seen in China so far.
This encourages positive competition and easy mingling for the international students.
Message to Ghanaian and African schools
It is obvious that education is fast a global commodity where the country in which one studied would soon not be a big concern provided the person involved is able to properly apply the knowledge acquired to the benefit of society.
As a result, it is advisable that Ghanaian schools and their counterparts in other African countries open up their doors for students from other countries to help enrich their student population while making money for the country.
This can be done by adopting and applying some of the strategies JSU uses.
For example, universities in the country could position themselves as the preferred institutions in Africa to study a particular course that is of interest to the continent.
This can be done through partnerships with the private sector and the government, where selected institutions agree to offer scholarships to qualified students to study and work with them afterwards.
That way, we could help retain our own brains to help develop huge continent and the countries in particular."
_____This is the article published by a Ghanian graduate student-Sandra from Jiangsu University.
Sandra is a MBBS student entered Jiangsu university since 2010. She chose Jiangsu university out of many chinese universities and she has passed through a happy and unforgetful 6-year study life here. During the study period, Sandra is a very good student and has been granted for scholarships many times. She took an active part in social practice and learn and feel China. After graduation, Sandra chose to go back to Ghana to be a doctor but the deep emotion for Jiangsu university will never change.
She said that Jiangsu University has provided a very good platform for her. From here she gained knowledge but practise herself as well; what's more, she has got a lot of friends from all over the world.
In the meantime, Greetings from teachers and schoolmates from Jiangsu university has make her feel the sincere and kind of Chinese people.
Jiangsu University offer 12 programs in English medium which have already covered most of the international students' need.
Undergraduate program in English medium are as below:
Accounting , Business Administration , Chemical Engineering and Processes , Chemistry , Clinical Medicine (MBBS) ,
Clinical Medicine (MBBS) , Civil Engineering , Computer Science & Technology , Food Science & Engineering , International Economics & Trade , Mechanical Engineering , Pharmacy .
Except the MBBS, all the above programs got two intakes: March and September
Apply to study in Jiangsu university or want to know more information about jianngsu university, you can contact Tel/Whatsapp: +86-13656656407 or Email to admissionoffice@126.com
