The Covid-19 pandemic is challenging for everyone, but it is especially so for many international students studying far away from home. Chinese students are the most abundant group of international students in the UK, and Chinese students seem to be disappointed with their study experience in the UK.
Most universities in the UK have limited access to campus, and most of the teaching and evaluations have moved online to prevent the spread of the virus. Students are presently taking their classes remotely via different online platforms. Some students find this new teaching practice helpful and beneficial, while some are still struggling to make the most of it.
The study shows the negative response to studies in the UK
Amid the Covid 19, more than sixty per cent of Chinese students attending universities in the UK have rated their experience poor with a hundred per cent of those that are studying only online in the UK.
China Travel Outbound (CTO), a specialist travel PR agency that has offices in Beijing, China, and Brighton UK, conducted a study to gauge the pandemic’s impact on Chinese student’s propensity to study in the UK. The outcomes are part of a study conducted by them.
The research is led with students at 12 universities across the UK gives penetration into current sentiments, reactions to prevailing learning conditions, and students’ outlooks for future learning. The research introduced to attain insight into virtual studying and how it impacts education and the university experience.
Out of samples, 67% of the students surveyed were based in the UK, 23% in China, and 10% in other abroad destinations. Of those participants that are currently studying, 39% are undergrads, and 54% are post-grads.
The result reveals that 61% of students rated their experience of studying with a UK university throughout the pandemic as bad, with 100% of those looking only online in the UK.
The major dislike for students studying virtually is pre-recording of a session rather than a live online session.
For the question, how does Covid-19 affect your plans to study abroad? 80% of participants responded that the pandemic had not crushed their plans to travel overseas in the future.
Many students who are virtually learning in China will go to their UK University as early as the travel restraints lifted. The students who do not want to travel have decided to wait until they are vaccinated or seem to defer their studies.
The research has revealed that Chinese Students are waiting to continue their travel and university plans simply as soon as they are ready.
The research has also highlighted that there is more to be gained from understanding the online learning experience and how it can be improved to meet students’ requirements. It will give students preference in how and where to study in the future.
Chinese students will resume being the most significant international market. It is vital that universities get their fundamental messages right, improve online experiences, and thoroughly understand their Chinese students’ needs.
