Ed-tech platform eduFair China bridges gap between international schools and Chinese students
HANGZHOU, China: eduFair China, a Chinese education-technology platform, has launched a website and app to connect Chinese students and international schools. Their goal is to boost student outcomes while making recruitment easier for schools of all sizes.
With over 660,000 students going abroad last year, China is by far the largest country of origin for international students. However, Chinese students face large barriers when researching schools abroad.
eduFair found that 77 percent of university websites have admissions content that is blocked in China. Even for sites that are accessible in China, university home pages take an average of 28.5 seconds to load.
Internet restrictions often mean that Chinese students rely on incomplete information when making costly decisions about their future. In turn, institutions are burdened with struggling students, high recruitment costs, and decreased retention rates.
SIMPLIFYING RECRUITMENT
Covering academics, culture, immigration, and careers, eduFair's platform gives students resources to assist during all steps of the study abroad journey.
eduFair is now inviting institutions to provide official information about their programs.
By joining, schools can create an e-Booth, a mini-website dedicated to the school. Student testimonials, campus tours, and online lectures -- content that is often blocked -- help applicants see beyond rankings and gain a more complete view of the campus experience.
eduFair optimizes content for Chinese search engines and social media. Schools can also access digital recruitment tools and insights about potential applicants.
FREE FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS
eduFair is unique in China in that it is free for both students and schools. Unlike other platforms, eduFair is not a recruitment agent. It does not charge commissions or track applications.
Also, all accredited institutions can create official accounts on eduFair. In contrast, sites like WeChat and Weibo require schools to have Chinese business licenses which often restricts small schools or institutions that are new to China.
ADDRESSING LARGE PROBLEMS
There have been many headlines about issues such as Chinese students' overreliance on agents and use of fraudulent materials. Further, Chinese students abroad report higher rates of mental stress and anxiety than their peers.
Most recently, Chinese students have reported concerns over racism and anti-immigrant sentiments on foreign campuses.
eduFair believes that first-hand information can help combat these issues. For example, with information from schools, more applicants may feel empowered to apply directly. Applicants can use information from peers to ensure they are a good fit once they arrive on campus.
Director of International Engagement Derrik Karst explains, "When students can interact, they can help guide each other through the process. After all, who is better qualified to speak about a school's welcoming environment than someone who lives on campus?"
He continues, "It's incredibly important for schools to engage their current students and alumni. Word-of-mouth is a powerful recruitment tool, especially in China. And we are seeing enrollments shift towards schools that demonstrate their graduates' success."
eduFair China already features more than 400 Chinese organizations, and its content reaches 750,000 users on social media.
