Off-campus study in China

In the summer of 2004 members of the East Asia Task Force collected information about off-campus study in the region. The data collected suggest substantial interest in off-campus study in East Asia among our colleges. It appears, however, that while on-campus enrollment has increased substantially in recent years, student enrollment has remained steady (as a percentage of off-campus participation). The number of students has gone up, but they are staying for shorter times. Study in Japan seems well established, including a well-regarded consortial program (the Japan Study Program at Earlham College).

China, on the other hand, is awash in programs of vastly different quality, which serve different purposes. Task force members are concerned about program efficiency and quality, although there is some disagreement over the definition of quality. The key issue seems to be advising students based on good information.

A working group asked participanting colleges which off-campus programs they used in China and why. This report summarizes those comments for the most-used programs and identifies the marks for a program most useful for liberal arts students. The paper can be used to help advise students looking to go abroad. It can also help colleges interested in strengthening their engagement with China.

The paper is available here. Reading it requires Acrobat reader.