Compared to years past, many more high school seniors this year are hoping to study abroad after graduation. And as Mike Balfour now reports, most of them want to get into Chinese universities.

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Last 5 years: 89 local HS students go abroad for university

In the last 5 years 89 local high school graduates applied to Universities abroad.

This year, 35 high school graduates from 17 local high schools will be leaving Jeju to study at universities outside the country.

The number of students going abroad used to stand at 10 in 2013 but showed a sudden increase this year. In particular students selected China as their study destination.

Looking at the distribution of the countries Jeju students are choosing shows China as the most popular destination surpassing Japan and USA.

The Jeju Board of Education recently entered a contract with Shanghai and Beijing and have since encouraged Jeju students to apply. A wide range of scholarship benefits are available for Jeju students to promote their application.

Kang Young-chul / Provincial education office
Policies have been set up to help students who apply to universities in China, and we will enact agreements with schools in Vietnam and Japan, as well.
[인터뷰 강영철 / 道교육청 학교교육과 장학관]
"중국 대학에 진학시 장학금 혜택을 주는 등의 정책을 마련했고 앞으로 일본과 베트남과도 이런 업무협약을 체결해 나갈 예정입니다."

The provincial education office will also establish a division dedicated to support students and the parents of students who are interested in studying abroad.

Kang Young-chul / Provincial education office
We plan to establish an overseas study consulting division and
offer support to students and their parents who want to apply to schools overseas.
[인터뷰 강영철 / 道교육청 학교교육과 장학관]
"대학진학지원단안에 해외진학 지원팀을 구성하고 앞으로 해외대학에 진학학고자 하는 학생,학부모를 지원해 나갈 계획입니다. "

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Ko Moon-su

[REPORTER]
Mike Balfour

While China’s economy is passing over its peak era of high growth, it continues to show its influence on a new generation of students wishing to study abroad.

Mike Balfour KCTV