Growing Trend of International Students Staying in China: HSK Examinees Surpass 810,000 Annually
On May 11, it was learned that the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education (CLEC) has established Chinese-language education partnerships with more than 190 countries worldwide. It currently supports the establishment of 83 Chinese learning and testing centers and 1,477 Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) test centers. The annual number of HSK examinees has surpassed 810,000, while the global number of Chinese-language learners has reached 210 million.
The "2026 (2nd) Shanghai High-level International Talents Exchange Conference & International Students Job Fair" opened at Fudan University on May 10. As a project guided and developed by CLEC, the "HSK Study in China Education & Career Expo" has been held more than 200 times across 51 countries, serving over 900,000 participants and helping more than 200,000 learners pursue studies or employment opportunities in China.
On May 12th, international students are experiencing tea-picking at the tea farm in Wuyishan, Nanping, Fujian. (CNS)
Yang Zhou, Deputy Director of CLEC, stated in Shanghai that CLEC will work with partners from various sectors to actively build a new model integrating "standards formulation, curriculum training, examination and certification, internships and employment," promoting the integrated development of "Chinese Plus" education and talent cultivation. All parties will continue improving HSK 3.0 services, further enhancing the practical value of Chinese-language proficiency and serving international talent development and industrial needs.
Fang Ming, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Fudan University Committee, said that Shanghai's development as a global hub for international talent is accelerating, and the trend of international students choosing to "remain in China for career development" is becoming increasingly apparent. Ye Linlin, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, noted that "Studying in China" is becoming the choice of a growing number of international young people. This means not only completing their education in China, but also resonating with China's development and connecting deeply with the opportunities created by the country's growth.
Representatives from internationalized enterprises stated that companies will establish dedicated talent programs to create customized growth pathways for international students, guiding them from campus life to professional careers.
It is reported that this year's event featured a "Startup Space" exhibition area for the first time,providing international graduates interested in entrepreneurship with policy consultation and resource-matching services. At the joint initiative ceremony for the first batch of Chinese universities and overseas partners of the "HSK Study in China International Curriculum –China Top University Preparation," 23 partner institutions, including Peking University, Fudan University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, signed a cooperation initiative. (CNS)