Schools jointly run by Chinese and international universities or educational organizations have been growing at an unprecedented rate in recent years.

With increasing demands for highly skilled professionals and talented personnel in many fields, China, now a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), faces an urgent need to update its traditional educational system and introduce advanced global training methods.

Some 147 Sino-foreign joint schools are now operating in Shanghai, a metropolis in east China, helping over 50,000 Chinese students from all kinds of educational backgrounds towards brighter futures. The foreign partners, including the well-known Larsarul International Fashion Design College and the Sydney Institute of Language and Commerce, come from 18 countries and regions such as the United States, Britain and Japan.

The Shanghai Star Training Center, authorized by the Wall Street Institute, offers an advanced English training curriculum with fresh educational methods to Chinese students. The latter were once known as "stuffed ducks" because of the lifeless way they were taught under China's old educational system.

"I wouldn't feel bored if stayed a full day here because I can entertain myself with camping, films, clubs and various kinds of activities related to English training," said Fan Jing, in her 20s.

The training center has 17 curriculum categories to suit Chinese students' actual levels of English proficiency. Trainees also enjoy a flexible timetable and face-to-face tuition.

Though taking two or three courses here costs over 10,000 yuan (around US$1,205), equivalent to the fees for two or more semesters in domestic universities, bank loans help ease the financial burden for students. There are now 2,500 Shanghai residents studying at the center.

Since its WTO accession, China has been gradually opening its educational market to foreign individual and institutional investors within limitations.

In five years time, the country aims to boost the domestic education industry with the assistance of international financial organizations, governmental and private loans.

China is said to be potentially the largest education market in the world. Researches indicate that Beijingers spend some two billion yuan (US$241 million) every year on improving their English.

The annual education expenditure on the Chinese mainland accounts for a mere 1.4 percent of the global cost of public education, far below its school population which makes up 23 percent of the world's total.

Only about 11 percent of middle school students in China reportedly are able to realize their dream of going to university.

The goal of boosting the college entrance rate to 15 percent by 2010 means seven million more students will blitz universities, bringing the total number of college students to some 17 million, according to Ministry of Education officials. This will create huge business opportunities for foreign education investors.

Working out formal ground rules to effectively supervise and manage the operation of joint schools is a priority for China, experts point out. At present only one temporary act, introduced in 1995, exists for that purpose.

Much effort should be made to eradicate illegal joint schools, regulate some specific aspects of schooling including tuition fee standards, educational quality and diploma granting procedures.

Foreign universities and educational organizations are also urged to improve their own training methods so Chinese students quickly adjust and feel comfortable in a new educational environment.

(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2002)