Chinese university students fail to make the French grade

Many Chinese university students who are unable to make the grade to enter Chinese, US and UK universities are flooding France. And French educational authorities worry these inferior students are dragging the country's standards down.

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Programme prepared by Kate Williams, Marie Billon and Patrick Lovett

18/04/2013 - FRANCE

France's pickpocket problem: a turn-off for tourists

With 29 million visitors every year, France remains the world’s number one tourist destination. The number of visitors from China is on the rise. France needs tourism from emerging countries to make up for the shortfall from crisis-hit Europe. But the Chinese media is now warning its nationals to steer clear of France, following a high-profile attack on Chinese tourists staying just outside of Paris.

18/04/2013 - FOCUS

Kenya unrest: Mombasa secessionism on the rise

Kenya's Indian Ocean coast is best known for its tourism. Westerners flock to the sandy beaches around the booming cities of Mombasa and Malindi, in a bid to escape cold winters. But this region also hosts a secessionist movement, the Mombasa Republican Council, that wants to break away from Kenyan government control.

17/04/2013 - UNITED KINDGOM

Britons weigh up the Iron Lady's legacy

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher continues to divide opinion even after her death. Although she was adored in eastern Europe for helping to bring down Communism, and in the US for her support for President Reagan, back home no politician has polarised opinion as much as the Iron Lady. We travelled from the north to the south of England to find out what people really think of the woman dubbed "the greatest British Prime Minister since Churchill".

16/04/2013 - VENEZUELA

Tug of war over Venezuelan election majority

At least 7 people have died in clashes in Venezuela. Fighting broke out across the country after late leader Hugo Chavez's anointed heir was declared winner of the presidential election. Nicolas Maduro claimed victory with 50.8% of the vote, a tiny margin ahead of his rival Henrique Capriles. The opposition leader has refused to concede defeat, saying that the results are so close that Maduro does not have a majority.

16/04/2013 - UNITED KINGDOM

UK welfare cuts come into effect

Since the beginning of April, the UK has put the accelerator on the government's austerity plans. So far, five different social service reforms have been implemented, nearly all at the same time, and the opposition is voicing its disapproval. A week after Margaret Thatcher passed away, many are drawing comparisons between the two conservative leaders.

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Chinese government should step up with higher education reform

by Anonyme - 06/07/2011 - 23:42

I think China should just improve the standards of their universities if a foreign education is seen as "more valuable". The government over there should make higher education more accessible to families across the income range. Also the implication of the one child policy often means that children are either extremely spoilt and somewhat lazy or are constantly under pressure to please their children so a division is created between the 'cream of the crop' and the less motivated students. I personally think that the Chinese government is doing a great disservice to its students by letting foreign institutions do the tough job of educating the uninterested and from taxpayers' money as well.

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I've taught in the US and in

by Anonyme - 09/06/2011 - 09:59

I've taught in the US and in Europe at the university level and I'm currently teaching in a Chinese college. I'm shocked by the low level of the students and it seems the worst of the lot fancy they will go abroad to continue their "studies" (which currently consist of sleeping in class, texting on their phone, and laughing at the teacher who is trying to put something into their empty skulls.) The problem is that due to the Shanghai student's high PISA result, the stereotype is being perpetuated of the brilliant Asian student, full of Confucian love of learning. The reality on the ground is far from the stereotype, as I and many other foreign teachers in China have learned. I'm not a sociologist and don't know the reasons behind it, but many of these Chinese "students" are sub-par academically, have little thirst for learning, and should be politely kept away from Western colleges, and even from Chinese "colleges" assuming the latter had any shame for their admissions practices.

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expected

by Anonyme - 11/01/2011 - 20:00

This is happening in Canada too. In the past Chinese and Indian students to the west came from the crop of their respective countries. Now the ordinary citizens are coming in and not living up to their predecessors expectations.