Satisfaction with the Overseas Education in China: A Survey on 44 Institutions of Higher Learning in Jiangsu Province

Abstract

In order to fully grasp the service level, management quality and effectiveness of the overseas education in China, a satisfaction survey was carried out on 44 institutions of higher learning in Jiangsu province from 5 dimensions of school learning, school life, school administration, surrounding environment, and urban civility and environment. Findings include 1. Students’ nationality: students from Asia and Africa are the most while students from Oceania are the least; 2. Student category: more than 1/3 of overseas students are Chinese language students, but overseas students in Jiangsu province have a higher level of matriculate quality and educational pursuit, for those pursuing a higher education degree at the bachelor’s, the master’s and the doctoral level have reached an accumulative 60% of all; 3. The overall student satisfaction is above average, with a significant difference between different colleges and universities within Jiangsu province. Satisfaction with surrounding environment gets the highest score, but dissatisfaction of a certain degree occurs with library, website construction, hostel accommodation, other school facilities and services, and urban civility and environment. As is revealed by the investigation, 70.45% of students respond that their college or university does not have a canteen exclusive for overseas students; 4. There is a significant difference in overall satisfaction and satisfaction with each of the 5 assessment dimensions between different categories of students; 5. A multiple linear regression model shows that the overall accountability is 98.8% on the 11 assessment parameters in the dimensions of school learning and school life (curriculum, teacher, school system, teaching facilities, library, website construction, hostel accommodation, canteen catering, entertainment & sports activities, student affairs and services, and other school facilities and services). Suggestions are as follows: 1. “Foreign language prompts and guidance” are the topmost demand of overseas students in China; 2. The basic living conditions for overseas students should be improved; 3. The international service level of educational administrative employees should be raised; 4. The construction of school library and a portal website should be made to better meet the practical needs of overseas students; 5. The disparity in the overseas education between different colleges and universities in Jiangsu province should be narrowed and a standardized management highlighted.

Keywords: Overseas education in China; overall satisfaction; multiple linear regression model; international service level