This article was generated by translation software. For the accurate meaning, please refer to the Chinese version. If there are any parts that are unclear or grammatical errors, please let me know in the comments section.
Stages of Chinese International Students According to Professor Xiang Biao:
1978-1992:
- Mainly state-sponsored students
- Strong sense of social responsibility and value orientation
- Focus on learning advanced Western technology
Transition Period:
- Study abroad shifted from national projects to individual pursuits
- More pragmatic considerations emerged
- Focus on personal career planning
Current Stage:
- Relatively “de-pragmatic” approach
- Emphasis on exploring personal potential fundamentally
The most direct reason behind these changes: China’s growing economy enabled more families and society to afford sending students abroad.
This is a dignified analysis that aligns with my personal experience. Studying abroad indeed provided me with more space for quiet reflection and self-criticism, which led to the creation of this blog.
However, there’s an unfortunate reality: studying abroad has transformed from a selective, elite program into a mass phenomenon. The total number of international students has increased significantly, shifting competition from pre-departure to post-graduation. Most domestic industries haven’t developed enough senior positions to accommodate both domestic and overseas graduates with advanced degrees. Thus began the intense competition.
This issue extends beyond studying abroad – it’s the growing pain of quantitative to qualitative transformation in most Chinese industries, particularly felt by our generation.
No one knows how long this pain will last.
On the positive side, life is long enough that ups and downs are normal. So we might as well pursue what we truly want to do.
I didn’t come to this world to reproduce. I came to see how flowers bloom, how water flows, how the sun rises, and when sunset falls. I live to understand some principles and encounter interesting things. Life is accidental, and I’m here searching for cause and effect.
-Wang Xiaobo