China has become the largest source of overseas students across the globe, according to a recent survey by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, says an article in 21st Century Business Herald. Excerpts:

More than 340,000 Chinese students headed abroad in 2011, 14 percent of the world total. They were part of a rapidly increasing trend, which has seen an annual average growth rate of 28 percent in Chinese students going abroad to study over the past 12 years.

The desire to study abroad is not unique to China. Last year the global growth in overseas students hit 12 percent. This surge has been stoked by economic growth in emerging economies, which has meant an increasing number of people can afford to go abroad to study.

Developed English-speaking countries are a favored destination as students realize the value of integrating into the dominant English-speaking culture.

While the phenomenon has brought a glut of new students, some universities in developed countries do not see it as good news. As the number of students applying to them increases sharply, government's have taken it as an opportunity to decrease state funding. This has forced some institutions to increase tuition fees, which has caused a degree of anger.

Many university students are looking for nothing more than a good job and would be better suited to a vocational college than academic study. More vocational institutions are needed to remove them from the growing competition for academic university places.

Diversification of further education systems in both developed and developing countries is a key trend for the future and a way forward in solving issues over government funding.