[Source/Observer Network, Zhang Jingjuan] The visa wall built by the Trump administration has made international students realize that behind the "American Dream" ticket, it clearly states "the final interpretation right belongs to the US government."

According to a report by The New York Times on June 7, when African students look forward to overseas education, the United States is no longer their first choice; for many people, "China is the future." This shift has been quietly happening long before the U.S. began to crack down on foreign students.

In the past decade, applicants from various parts of Africa have abandoned British and American universities after careful consideration and chosen to look eastward. China, with its comprehensive government scholarship system, highly competitive tuition fees, reasonable living costs, and convenient and efficient visa policies, is becoming a new choice for African students seeking higher education.

It is reported that Africa has the youngest and fastest-growing population in the world, while aging processes in wealthier regions such as the West and Asia are accelerating, making it difficult to find enough labor to sustain economic growth.

Africa lacks sufficient universities to educate its own students, while China is actively providing more quality educational opportunities for African students. Meanwhile, the U.S. is reducing its diplomatic, military, and humanitarian aid investments in Africa.

The New York Times pointed out that graduates who studied in China are increasingly taking positions in African governments, supporting Chinese enterprises in Africa, and bridging cultural differences through teaching Chinese or promoting Chinese cuisine.

Hannah Ryder, founder of Development Reimagined, a consulting firm specializing in Sino-African relations, said that China has opened up an "educational highway" for African students hoping to study abroad, which is a win-win situation for both China and Africa.

Data shows that in 2018, over 81,000 African students were studying at Chinese universities, doubling since 2013. According to UNESCO data, in 2023, the U.S. only had 55,000 African international students, and in 2022, the UK had 68,000.

It is reported that in China, depending on the course and institution, African students can choose to study in Chinese or English, but they usually take Mandarin courses to adapt to daily life in China.

Children in Nairobi learning how to cook Chinese food. The New York Times

"China is the Future"

Convenient visa policies are one of the reasons attracting African students to study in China. In 2022 alone, more than half (over 28,000) of African student visa applications to the U.S. were rejected. Students cited reasons including incomplete documents, insufficient funds, and unclear plans to return home.

This May, a telegram from the U.S. Department of State showed that the Trump administration had instructed all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to suspend face-to-face interviews for visa applications from foreign students and exchange visitors, while considering requiring all students applying to study in the U.S. to undergo social media reviews. Currently, some student visas have been suddenly revoked, and others have been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On June 4, the White House announced a visa restriction on international students at Harvard University. Trump also requested a review of current international students at Harvard University and instructed the U.S. Department of State to consider revoking existing visas based on specific circumstances.

Ken Opalo, associate professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, said that these new restrictions are likely to disrupt the financial stability, global reputation, and research output of U.S. universities.

He added that this move could accelerate the flow of students to other countries like China and weaken America's position as a hub for education, cultural exchange, and talent development.

"Elite individuals from around the world come to the U.S. to study and gain an understanding of American characteristics, culture, and prospects. This will influence their relationships with the U.S. upon returning home. Losing this advantage means a decline in American soft power," Opalo said.

Helen Dekyem, from Ghana in West Africa, successfully pursued a degree in clinical pharmacology at a university in Nanjing after years of studying Chinese, receiving a scholarship. She said that pursuing a similar course in the U.S. could cost tens of thousands of dollars annually, whereas in China, it would only cost several thousand dollars.

"China is the future," Dekyem said, who is set to graduate this month.

China has maintained its position as Africa's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. Reports indicate that China provides funding for railway and highway construction in Africa, extending its influence into areas such as media, technology, military, and mining, and has trained thousands of African officials in fields like agriculture, science, and military strategy.

"China Made Me an African"

The U.S. once showed greater interest in African education.

In the late 1950s, as African nations gained independence, there was an increased demand for educated labor. To meet this need and establish connections with future African leaders, the U.S. mobilized resources to support them, including through the John F. Kennedy "Air Lift" program, which funded hundreds of African students to attend U.S. universities. Among these students were Obama's father and Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai.

During the same period, China also provided scholarships to train African professionals. Starting in the 1980s, China sought closer ties and long-term cooperation with Africa. By 2013, over 33,000 African students had come to China to study, compared to just over 5,000 between 1976 and 1995.

For many of these students, coming to China marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives: it was often their first time flying or traveling abroad, and in many cases, their first encounter with people from other African countries.

They shared Zimbabwean music and Ugandan art on social media platforms in China. They also created websites to document their experiences and provide guides for incoming students about food, fashion, and entertainment in major Chinese cities.

Norbert Haguma, a businessman and tech executive from Rwanda who has lived, worked, and studied in China for over a decade, said that interacting with other Africans sparked a lasting sense of Pan-African solidarity.

"I came to China as a Rwandan, but China made me an African," Haguma said.

"The Mission" of African Chinese Teachers

Some African graduates from Chinese universities choose to work or seek opportunities in other countries, while others return to Africa to promote the benefits of Chinese education.

Faith Mworia, head of a Kenyan Chinese language teacher association, founded one of the few private Chinese tutoring centers in East Africa, teaching hundreds of people planning to study, do business, or travel in China.

Across Kenya, she organizes national grammar competitions and spelling contests, teaches students how to make fried rice and celebrate traditional Chinese holidays correctly.

Mworia voluntarily teaches Chinese at a high school in Kibera, a slum in Nairobi, hoping to help students win scholarships to study in China.

"We need to cultivate the younger generation so that Africa's best and brightest have the opportunity to choose the world they want to live in," Mworia said.

Students participating in a Chinese spelling competition. The New York Times

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7513870911561400886/

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