The recruiting environment is getting more competitive in China for international universities. International admission officers have to find ways to broaden the pool of students they can reach. As a result, it is even more important to understand the Chinese high school system to craft a successful recruitment strategy for your college or university.
This blog will give an overview of the structure and regional differences, supported by an audio podcast with one of our Chinese specialists, as well as a special download of a high school overview with examples in multiple regions.
Let's start with the two most important aspects we need to consider. We need to distinguish two different dimensions: the type of high school, e.g. international schools vs. public high schools with billingual class and we need to pay attention to the regional dimension of Tier I, II or developed cities, i.e. emerging cities.
Here is a link to our free podcast with Edward Zhang talking about the recruiting strategies and different school types. http://bit.ly/zhangpodcast1
Traditionally American universities have recruited at the International, American and possibly Chinese international schools. The difference between those different types tend to be the nationality of the majority of students. They range from largely expatriate students, who happen to live with their parents in China or local Chinese students studying at those high schools. Competition is very tough in those schools since they are heavily visited by U.S. colleges. Access for international university representatives is easier since these schools have traditional high school counselors and welcome admissions officers in the same way as U.S. high schools. In recent years, Chinese public and private high schools have established special departments or classes that focus on the preparation to study aboard. The latter group is a growing number and a promising student audience for international recruiters.
In general, Chinese high schools focus on preparation for the Gaukau exam, the standard Chinese university entry exam. Traditional public Chinese high schools are measured by the outcome of the Gaukau exams and have generally neither staff nor motivation to assist international universities in meeting students.
Please see below examples for the different types of high schools in two regions.
The attached spreadsheet includes the details and a broader list of high schools in the different categories and different regions including the direct links to the school websites.
Let us know if you have experience with approaching traditional government high schools and how you handled the marketing to such schools.
