Being The Economist, they even managed to work in the whole 'but at what cost angle' 🤣

Foreign unis feel the pain

Abroad, shrinking enrolment is now hurting some universities that had become overly reliant on Chinese students. In the 2024-25 academic year Chinese made up more than two-fifths of international students at the Russell Group of 24 top British universities. Many of them expanded master’s programmes to attract students from China, charging them fees far above those of home students. Faculties grew and new facilities were built. There was an “illusion of financial stability”, says Filippo Boeri, at City St George’s, University of London. But now universities are closing courses and laying off staff or asking them to take voluntary redundancy.

Chinese students drying up will deprive the West of valuable talent. It may also do no good for China. As the country opened up to the world, haigui brought home skills and knowledge acquired overseas. The group were key in helping the country to modernise and the economy to catch up (eight of the 21 current members of the Communist Party’s ruling Politburo studied abroad). The international experience of the haigui has also helped Chinese firms seeking a foothold in foreign markets. When fewer turtles swim the seas, China will surely suffer too. ■