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More Swedish students eye Asia for studying

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-22 14:55

STOCKHOLM  -- An increasing number of Swedish students have traveled to Asia to pursue their studies overseas in the past five years, local media reported Friday.

According to Torbjon Lindqvist, an inspector with Sweden's Higher Education Bureau, only 400 students from the Nordic country went to Asia to further their studies during the 2001-2002 school year.

But the number more than quadrupled during 2006-2007, reaching 1,700 and accounting for one seventh of the Swedish students studying abroad.

Lindqvist said Asia's fast economic growth led by China and India is the main reason for many Swedish students to choose it for their further studies overseas, Lindqvist said, adding that Asia has become an important market for Sweden.

To expand their businesses in Asia, Swedish companies need more professionals with a good knowledge of the world's largest continent, Mattias Bergman, an official from Sweden's Export Administration, said.

Swedish students' enthusiasm for Asia was also the result of increased exchanges and cooperation in the field of education between Sweden and Asian countries.

Statistics show the number of Asian students enrolled in Swedish schools has risen tenfold since the mid 1990s and there is growing interest and curiosity among Swedish students for knowing more about Asia.