Almost 200 colleges and educational organizations from 24 countries and regions are taking part in the 2003 China International Educational Exhibition which started on Friday evening in Beijing.

The exhibition, open to public during the weekend in the capital, will move to Shanghai next weekend, sources with the exhibition's organizing committee said.

Zong Wa, a senior official with the exhibition sponsor, the Chinese Education Association for International Exchange, said that Chinese who have gone to study abroad in recent years have focused more on the practicability of the courses offered.

They think more and become "cooler and maturer'' when planning to study abroad, he added.

A survey conducted by the organizing committee earlier showed that 24 percent of the 752 surveyed people believed "major and future employment expectations'' were the major factor that they consider when choosing which country to study in, only after taking into account the "education environment and education level'' on offer.

The survey also found that 34 percent of those surveyed go abroad studying with the intention of improving themselves as competition increases in China.

More people believe that China is full of opportunities now and studying abroad is no longer the only way to success, Zong concluded.

According to the new trend, the exhibition has invited experts to give consultations during the two days to help people plan their future study abroad.

And there will be 60 other reports and lectures during the event, giving details about studying at foreign colleges.

(China Daily October 17, 2003)