Trends in Participation and Attainment of Chinese Students in the UK Higher Education - Research Proposal Example

Research Proposal PROPOSED STUDY An investigation of factors influencing Chinese choice of the UK as a destination for overseas higher education. Summary The research proposed here aims to investigate what factors influence Chinese student’s choice of the UK as a destination for attainment of higher education, both undergraduate and postgraduate education. While there have been carried out many different studies aiming to investigate the factors driving students to attain higher education abroad, there was limited research with a focus made on the Chinese students deciding to study in the UK. In order to carry out this study it was decided to use quantitative method for research. Use of questionnaires with both multiple and open-ended questions was chosen as the most representative and accessible method for this investigation. Background The UK has become an attractive destination for higher education for many nations. Nowadays, the highest inflow of foreign students to the UK comes from China. The number of Chinese students taking higher education courses in the UK has shown dramatic increase during past decades. In 1998-1999 the number of Chinese students in UK was 4000 (Ianelli and Huang, 2014). By 2001, the number rose by 71% to nearly 18,000 students and by 2009-2010 to almost 57,000 (Gittings, 2002; Ianelli and Huang, 2014). There are many papers which aimed to explore the determinants of the choice of UK universities by overseas students. Soo & Elliot (2010) have carried out such research, analysing key determinants of popularity of the UK universities among international students. They have found that fee cost, quality of education, as well as the existing popularity of a university among home applicants were some of the most significant factors (Soo & Elliot, 2010). Thus, prestige and quality of higher education are recognized to be the most common reasons. However, the inflow of Chinese students can be hardly explained only with these aspects. With the growth of the middle class and market orientation of China, Chinese families seek value for money (Gittings, 2002). Obviously, that decision of a Chinese student to study in the UK is more likely to be sponsored by their parents, and therefore, parents also are important decision-makers in the process. Ianelli and Huang (2014) have tried to analyze how the patterns of attainment of Chinese graduates have changed during the last decade. The findings have shown that science, engineering, business, and social sciences were the courses in great among the Chinese students in UK (Ianelli and Huang, 2014). Also, the study has shown that Russel Group universities are increasingly popular among Chinese students studying in the UK (Ianelli and Huang, 2014). It is possible here to refer to the findings of Soo and Elliot (2010) in terms of the existing popularity of a university among home applicants. Also, it is worth to mention that some people who worked in state organizations were sent at the public expense for attaining higher education in UK and returning back (Gittings, 2002). One more potential reason of choosing the UK for education is shorter length of some courses than in the US shorter length means shorter period of stay (Gittings, 2002). Fang and Wang (2014) have carried out a study analyzing the factors which drive Chinese students’ choice of transnational higher education, which involves mobility of course content and course providers across the borders. The authors have identified several factors that drive this movement, dividing them into two categories: push and pull factors. Among push factors, Fand & Wang (2014) have identified the following: (1) foreign culture and foreign teaching methods; (2) improvement of foreign language and cross-cultural communication; (3) advanced foreign knowledge; (4) cultivation of an international person; (5) preparation for work abroad; (6) labor market oriented majors, and some other factors. Pull factors included the following: (1) lack of access to satisfying major fields; (2) family influence; (3) low internationalization levels; (4) low education quality; (5) competitiveness of degrees in job markets; (6) lack of suitable major fields; (7) lack of access to domestic higher education institutions (Fand & Wang, 2014). Even though these factors may be helpful for understanding the factors influencing Chinese students’ choice of attaining education in the UK, this information is not sufficient enough and more detailed investigation is required. Gap There were carried out many studies investigating the factors that influence students’ decision for attaining overseas education. Factors influencing Chinese student’s choice of overseas higher education have been researched but in a quite limited scope. It is envisaged that even though there were carried out numerous quantitative and qualitative researches investigating the reasons of increased number of the Chinese students attaining higher education in the UK, there is a gap in understanding the significance of factors influencing this tendency. Aims and objectives The aim of this study is to investigate what factors influence on the decision of Chinese students to attain higher education abroad, in the UK. Significant understanding about the higher education in UK will be gleaned from those Chinese students who are studying in the UK and who have agreed to participate in the project. There are several objectives of the study, including the following: 1) To understand why do Chinese students choose overseas higher education in UK 2) To understand how do Chinese students choose a particular overseas higher education program 3) To understand what are top factors that drive Chinese students to choose overseas higher education in the UK. Methods Research method In order to investigate what factors influence on the decision of Chinese students to attain higher education in the UK a quantitative rather than a qualitative research method is chosen. Students at a University of Essex and some other Universities located in London will be asked to complete a survey. Participants and recruitment The study will recruit current Chinese students from several of the UK universities located in London and Colchester. By involving current students who have come from China to the UK in order to attain higher education in one of the UK Universities it will be possible to collect data based on lived experience. Sampling in this research will rely on recruitment of respondents based on existing contacts and personal knowledge. Researcher will survey an original group at Essex University and will get leads from this group on further Chinese students studying in the UK Universities. For development of questionnaire Likert scale will be used. This scale is often used for measuring attitudes, opinions, preferences, etc. (Göb, Mccollin, & Ramalhoto, 2007). Data collection It is proposed that data will be collected using questionnaires. Respondents will be given questionnaires to fill in the answers. Surveying process will be conducted over X month period in 2015, during which the researcher will develop a questionnaire, carry out a pilot study, distribute questionnaires to sample group and collect filled questionnaires. Data collection questions will focus on the following: 1. Did you come from China in order to study in the UK University? 2. Who made this choice? 3. Why did you choose UK among other European/US destinations? 4. What specific factors influenced your choice? 5. What are your expectations on higher education in the UK? Data analysis The initial analysis will involve analytical review for observing similarities and differences between individual responses. Further, the data will be analysed with a use of a descriptive-correlational research design method. This type of research is often used for gathering information from groups through questionnaires (Ary, Jacobs, & Razavieh, 2002). For analyzing collected data ANOVA tool will be used. Analysis will be performed with a help of SPSS program. Ethical issues Respondents will be given informed consent letter before a survey about the purpose of the research and reasons of why they have been chosen to participate in the study. The proposed study will ensure that answers obtained from participants will be kept anonymous. Students will be identified only with their Student ID. The researcher will also guarantee participant’s privacy and confidentiality. Also, it will be necessary to get formal approval from the Universities on the campuses of which the questionnaires will be distributed. Timetable 2015: February – March: Proposal submission and appliance for ethics clearance/ Development of questionnaires/ Recruitment of participants April – May: Conduct surveys (the questionnaires will be distributed to students before summer semester as the number of targeted respondents will be higher) June - July: Data analysis Budget: Questionnaires - £300 Travel: £200 References Iannelli, C. & Huang, J. 2014, Trends in participation and attainment of Chinese students in UK higher education, Studies in Higher education. Fang, W. & Wang, S. 2014. Chinese students’ choice of transnational higher education in a globalized higher education market: a case study of W University, Journal of Studies in International Education, 2014, vol. 18(5), pp.475-494. Gittings, J. 2002, Higher Education: Cultural revolution: What is attracting 18,000 Chinese students a year to study in the UK? John Gittings reports from Shanghai, London (UK). Göb, R., Mccollin, C. & Ramalhoto, M.F. 2007, "Ordinal Methodology in the Analysis of Likert Scales", Quality and Quantity, vol. 41, no. 5, pp. 601-626. Soo K, Elliott C. 2010. Does price matter? Overseas students in UK higher education. Economics of Education Review, pp. 553-565. Read More