Non-traditional venues are jostling for a piece of the lucrative Chinese higher-education market which is dominated by Britain and the United States.

Italy, which is host to only 600 Chinese students, made its debut at the 10th China International Education Exhibition Tour (Spring 2005), which ended yesterday in Shenzhen. The exhibition, showcasing 135 universities and institutions, was earlier held in Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing.

A project called Marco Polo, initiated by the association of rectors of Italian state and private universities, offers courses ranging from graduate to doctorate degrees and aims to attract 2,000 Chinese students.

"Our education system is as good as other European countries. Courses in the field of design, engineering and architecture rank among the best in the world," said Michelangelo Balicco of Polytechnic Di Milano, a public university.

Balicco explained that recruitment of Chinese students is driven by Italian enterprises which have set up offices and factories in China and need professionals who speak the language and understand the culture.

"The companies who approached us are willing to offer annual scholarships of 10,000 euros (US$13,000) for Chinese students," Balicco revealed.

Italy is one of 13 countries and regions - including Britain, Australia, France and Germany - present at the show. Some are offering incentives to entice Chinese students.

In Scotland - where there are only 25,000 foreign students including 3,000 Chinese - international students have the option to remain and work for up to two years after graduation from higher educational institutions.

Of the 22 Scotland scholarships for international students, nine have been offered to Chinese students.

The response is said to have been positive during the exhibition in the four cities.

Liz Neil, market development coordinator of Education UK Scotland, is very impressed with how well-informed the Chinese visitors to the fair are.

"The Chinese students are very focused and sophisticated. They know what they want to study. They are coming here just to finalize their decision," Neil said.

Experience

The experience abroad would become a selling point for Chinese students when they look for a job in China, Neil added.

"We've networked with local enterprises and industries on internship and working positions for our international graduates," said Neil.

Among the nearly 6,000 visitors on the first day, Wang Lin, an English teacher in her late 20s, was checking details of a postgraduate programme in education.

Wang prefers to study in Britain because postgraduate study there takes only one year.

"I need at least two years to finish a master's degree in China. Plus, the highly competitive entrance examination for postgraduate programmes in China is not easy to pass. I'd rather pay for an easier enrollment abroad," Wang said.

Indeed, with the steady rise of incomes in China, particularly in big cities nationwide, more and more parents are sending children to study abroad.

Editor: Catherine