Educational Mobility in the Global South-A Study of African Students in China

Abstract

China’s extraversion (“invite in” and “go out”) does not only reflect in the field of trade and investment but also in the education field. As knowledge economy impacts on China’s domestic development, the nation’s foreign policy toward South-South cooperation is influenced by the policy. Especially with the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in October 2000, China’s engagement with African countries has gradually extended from commercial to social and cultural related sectors. This chapter examines African students’ experiences in China, new trends in educational mobility within the global South, China’s role in international education, and both opportunities and challenges which the African students and the Chinese society face in the changing dynamics of global education. Through interviews with 20 African students in a Chinese university, the study analyzes African students’ motivations, opinions about living in China, and plans after graduation. The findings show various trends in international mobility through higher education exchange and cooperation, evaluate current China-Africa relations, and provide suggestions for future implementations at different levels.