Motivation factors in student decisions to study Transnational Higher Education in China: a comparative study of two Anglo-Sino programmes

ABSTRACT

China continues to experience rapid economic growth and the increasing demand for tertiary level education of Chinese citizens has created a significant market for Higher Education (HE) providers across the globe. Transnational Higher Education (TNHE), where the delivery of an overseas degree is partly conducted in the host country, continues to be a popular model of HE delivery in China. Although much research has been undertaken regarding student motivations to study abroad at a foreign university, little is understood about why Chinese students choose TNHE in China. Drawing on push–pull theory and using survey (328) and interview data (40) from students at two Anglo-Sino programmes, the study findings highlight that understanding Chinese students’ motivation requires a more contextualised and student-centric approach, to better appreciate student choices, including though a Confucian lens.

KEYWORDS:

• China
• Chinese students
• Transnational Higher Education
• student motivation
• push–pull theory
• confucianism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Humanities and Social Sciences Foundation of Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China [grant number 20YJCZH091]; Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation [grant number 2019A1515110873] China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Grant [grant number 2019M652836].