Diana Pasek-Atkinson, NTU ENTERPRISE

At the second China UK Dialogue and Development Forum held in London recently, the UK officially released the "Report on the Status of Internship and Employment of Chinese Overseas Students in the UK". The report shows that the professional choices of Chinese overseas students have shown a diversified development, but there is still a certain gap with the demand of the UK employment market. The economic and trade relationship between China and the UK is entering a "golden era", with Chinese overseas students working in the UK promoting economic and trade exchanges between China and the UK. The deepening and development of Sino UK trade cooperation also brings more job internship opportunities for Chinese students.

The report released by the "International Student Internship Program" project management agency authorized by the British government emphasizes that China has become the UK's first source country of overseas students, accounting for 15% of the UK's total international students, with a total number of over 130000. More than 29% of Chinese students choose to major in a popular business field, but this proportion has decreased compared to the past; Accounting and finance majors ranked second, accounting for 19.3%; Engineering, communications, and media research accounted for 7.4% and 6.7%, respectively.

Which major is easy for Chinese students to choose to find a job in the UK?

Among Chinese international students who have obtained internship work in the UK after graduation and obtained relevant Tier 5 internship visas guaranteed by the International Student Internship Program, the popular majors they choose focus on business, accounting and finance, media, art, and design, accounting for up to 61.8%.

According to survey data, the most vacant majors in British enterprises are engineering, computer, and mobile communication technology, which basically belong to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The gap between the professional choice orientation of Chinese international students and the demand of the local talent market in the UK deserves attention.

The Chinese and British governments welcome encouraging their students to study and practice in each other's countriesDavid Willetts, a former UK minister for universities and science, pointed out at the forum that the UK government will promote 80000 UK students to study and practice in China by 2020. The Tier 5 ISIS International Student Internship Visa added by the UK Visa and Immigration Administration (UKVI) provides an effective visa pathway and convenience for Chinese graduates to stay in the UK and find work, as well as for British companies to hire international talents who are familiar with both languages and cultures.

Shenyang Gongshen, Education Department of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, emphasized at the forum that higher education between China and the UK is at a positive stage of development. This year 7500 British students have gone to China to continue their studies. At the end of his speech, Shen Gongshen also specifically emphasized his hope to see more and more Chinese students obtain internship opportunities in the UK.

Jack, an official of the UK General Administration of Investment and Trade, focused on the strong talent and cultural foundation that exchanges between universities in the two countries have built for the development of trade between China and the UK. In particular, from the perspective of small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK, the demand for Chinese graduates studying abroad is proposed. The 'Great Ambassadors' scheme and the International Student Internship Scheme established by the British government this year aim to assist British companies in expanding business opportunities in China and make Chinese students become "ambassadors" of business culture between British companies and China.

According to the report, the British government recognizes the contribution of Chinese students to the UK's education and economy, and attaches importance to developing relations with China in various fields such as economy, trade, education, and humanities. We welcome more Chinese students to study in the UK.