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Higher Education, Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Comparative Perspectives pp 245–267Cite as

Brain Drain or Brain Gain: A Growing Trend of Chinese International Students Returning Home for Development

Part of the Higher Education in Asia: Quality, Excellence and Governance book series (HEAQEG)

Abstract

International education and international student mobility are becoming increasingly popular in the era of globalization, which has triggered discussions on brain drain, brain gain, and brain circulation. Nonetheless, international student mobility has been significantly not only by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic but also by the new geopolitics clearly adversely influencing the diplomatic relationships between China and the USA with its allies in the West. In view of the growing complexity closely related to how international politics affecting international learning and student mobility, there is a reverse trend of Chinese international students choosing to return to China in recent years against the worsening relations between China and some major powers in the West. This chapter sets out against the broader political economy context to examine the intentions of Chinese high-level talents graduating from major universities overseas to return to mainland China to pursue their career development. More specifically, this chapter examines the high-level talents’ overall feelings about China and foreign countries from their perspectives. Special attention is given to high-level talents’ preferred institutions and provinces or regions for their career development. Analyzing the major survey data generated from a research project conducted by Peking University, this chapter discusses policy implications for talent attraction and retention for the GBA.

Keywords

  • International student mobility
  • High-level talents
  • Greater Bay Area (GBA)
  • Brain circulation
  • Teaching
  • Higher education

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Gui Guo Quan (guiguoquan.com), owned by Golden Career, offers job opportunities to global overseas elites to work in China. Gui Guo Quan is the main way to provide employment services for high-level talents.

  2. 2.

    Source: http://cpc.people.com.cn/n/2013/1021/c64094-23277634.html.

  3. 3.

    Source: http://www.gov.cn/guowuyuan/2017-11/07/content_5237674.htm.

  4. 4.

    Source: http://www.gov.cn/guowuyuan/2017-11/07/content_5237674.htm.

  5. 5.

    Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com//politics/2017-10/29/c_1121871668.htm.

  6. 6.

    Gui Guo Quan (guiguoquan.com), owned by Golden Career, offers job opportunities to global overseas elites to work in China. Gui Guo Quan is the primary stop to provide employment services for high-level talents.

  7. 7.

    Source: http://jingzheng.chinabaogao.com/wenti/03314v3a2020.html.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Policy Studies, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China

    Ka Ho Mok & Youliang Zhang

  2. Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, Hong Kong, China

    Youliang Zhang

  3. Graduate School of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China

    Wei Bao

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  1. Ka Ho Mok
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Correspondence to Ka Ho Mok .

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  1. Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China

    Ka Ho Mok

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Mok, K.H., Zhang, Y., Bao, W. (2022). Brain Drain or Brain Gain: A Growing Trend of Chinese International Students Returning Home for Development. In: Mok, K.H. (eds) Higher Education, Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Comparative Perspectives. Higher Education in Asia: Quality, Excellence and Governance. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8870-6_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-8870-6_11

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