Should you, or should you not study abroad

Don't miss overseas experience

Recognizing the importance and contribution of Chinese students to the academic discipline they study, and to enriching the student community in their universities, we value their contribution to widening the global perspective of all students.

Our research shows employers look for a number of core global employability skills, including the technical skills gained through studying a rigorous degree program in the United Kingdom, in recruits. They also want recruits to be work-ready. This work-readiness includes team-working, problem-solving, a global mindset, excellent communication skills, thinking beyond the obvious, and not being afraid to challenge established ways of doing things.

The UK offers Chinese students a rich cultural experience in both heritage and history. UK universities offer a unique experience in terms of encouraging independent learning, innovative and creative thinking, and English language skills.

But our research has found Chinese students often fail to move beyond Chinese groups within their university and so miss out on making the most of their time in the UK. Apart from other problems, staying within the Chinese community also prevents many of these students from becoming really proficient in English writing, reading and speaking.

Employers want cultural diversity in their global workforce because there is organizational resilience and competitive advantage in having Chinese graduates who are work-ready and have a global mindset. Chinese students must get work experience, either paid or by volunteering, so they can demonstrate to potential employers that they know how the world of work works.

If Chinese students plan to return to China, they need to understand the labor market, its complexity and rapid speed of change, as well as develop and maintain their networks. They would benefit from having "taster" work experience when they return home for vacations.

Students can help themselves by understanding their values and their career motivations. They can use this understanding to think about what career would suit these values and motivations, and then gain the necessary work experience and extra-curricular experiences that will enable them to see whether these ideas are valid or not, and also to network with prospective employers. And finally, they can draw this knowledge and experience together to show and tell employers why they are a good fit for the organization, and gain a career of their choice.

The research team of Enhancing the Employability, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Skills of UK-educated Chinese Students and Graduates led by the University of Warwick and funded by the British Council.