Nearly 50,000 students and parents packed the East China Exhibition Hall over the weekend for the 2007 China International Education Exhibition Tour.

 

The CIEET Shanghai stop, which is the third leg of the country's largest annual education fair this year, attracted 201 educational institutes from 22 countries for face-to-face communication with local applicants.

 

Australian schools made up of the largest delegation this year, including 49 universities, language schools, polytechnics and even middle schools.

 

Starting from this academic year, the Australian government has launched an "Australian Scholarship Plan" to double the scholarship quota for students from the Asia-Pacific region.

 

More than 19,000 Asia-Pacific students will be entitled to scholarships totaling 1.4 billion Australia dollars (US$1.09 billion) over the next five years, the Australian Consulate General Shanghai announced.

 

Other countries are trying to attract students with overseas career development opportunities.

 

The Scottish government announced in the city that students who graduate from a Scottish college or university will be offered a business-starting subsidy of 1,000 pounds (US$1,932).

 

Meanwhile, 1,167 Chinese students who graduate from a Scottish school will also benefit from Fresh Talent, a scheme that allows international students to live and work in Scotland for up to two years upon graduation without a work permit.

 

"In recent years, parents and students have selected study destinations out of consideration for career prospects. We are keen to attract talents and retain them," said Steven Szymoszowskyj, a Fresh Talent policy officer.

 

Canadian universities are offering paid-internships and jobs.

 

(Shanghai Daily March 12, 2007)