he School of Asian and African Studies of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) started a new language course – Urdu, the official language of Pakistan, to junior students majoring in Hindi language this semester to support China’s Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative. It is expected that SISU will offer degree programs and courses in 30 languages three years later.

In Tongji University, more than 50 international students from B&R countries cooperating with Chinese students are going to publish their research papers about countries and national conditions. 

The Chinese Politics program of Fudan University, which is taught in English, is to enroll international students from B&R countries. 

Universities in Shanghai are taking measures for a better implement of the country’s B&R Initiative. 

Mainly for Degree

In Donghua University, international students from Sudan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Bengal and other countries had no break during the National Day holidays. They spend all the seven days in the labs of the School of Material Science.

In recent years, international students came to study in China mainly for degrees, but in the past they came merely for learning Chinese language and culture.

Besides, universities like Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and East China Normal University (ECNU) see an explosion in the numbers of students from B&R countries. 

A third of more than 680 international students in SJTU come from over 40 B&R countries, and the number in ECNU is a half of over 1,200. Most of these students choose popular degree programs, like Engineering in SJTU and Education in ECNU.

A Russian student said one of her relatives was enrolled to SJTU last year for postgraduate studies. After searching information online, she decided to study Computer Science in Shanghai. “China and Russia have lots of trade contacts, working experience in China will benefit my future career.” She said.

More New Majors

A soaring number of postgraduate students from B&R countries are applying for SISU’s newly-launched China Studies program which is taught in English. Drawing on its strengths in politics and diplomatic studies, SISU is developing a wide range of new multi-lingual degree programs in Area Studies.

Fudan will open new majors including Chinese politics this year and extend the enrollment to international students next year. The Chinese department of the university will make cooperation with universities in Thailand.

Enhancing Education Quality

Universities in Shanghai will enhance educational quality and make improvements in service to meet the needs of international students.

“Our school started to run one-to-one research projects last semester to help international students get used to their academic life in China,” said Chen Yu, a lecture from the International School of Tongji University. She said that most of the students from B&R countries couldn’t speak Chinese well and the “one-to-one” project would let one Chinese student to help one foreign students to conduct researches.

In general, international students are allowed to do part-time work in China. However, Fudan University makes an exception to provide needy students from B&R countries with posts inside campuses. “It is one of the ways for students to know contemporary China”, a university official said.