Last week saw media coverage across the East Asian region of students leaving the UK to return home, driven by health and safety fears in the UK, and to beat deadlines for mandatory quarantine that many countries were implementing for arrivals.
This coverage was widespread, some examples were as follows:
China
https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1182806.shtml
The Global Times reported Chinese overseas rushing to return to Beijing, with students facing challenges finding seats on flights and having to pay inflated prices. Our social media monitoring highlighted growing concern among Chinese students at the rapid increase in virus cases in Europe and the U.K. The recent assault on a Singaporean student also made the news in China, along with reports of discrimination of people wearing a mask.
Hong Kong
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/11/217279/Exodus-back-to-HK
Local media have widely reported that Hong Kong parents and students have no confidence in the UK’s precautionary measures for the virus. In addition some lawmakers urged students in US, UK and other European countries to return to Hong Kong as soon as possible. A handful of local media (e.g. Sing Tao, Top Pick, HK01, The Standard) reported HK students feeling discriminated against when wearing a mask in a public area.
The Hong Kong government added the UK to it's list of 'red alert' countries, meaning any arrivals need to undertake a manditory 14 home quarantine. This led to Cathay Pacific adding extra flights to cater to the demand from students to return home.
Agents are now reporting that many parents are taking a wait and see attitude, to see whether the situation improves by the summer. If not, they will defer overseas study until next year,
Indonesia
The Indonesian Foreign Minister advised Indonesian citizens currently traveling abroad to “return to Indonesia at the earliest possible time to avoid further travel disruptions”, however this was later contradicted by advice form the Ministry to stay put. The Jakarta post reported confusion among students, as scholarship schemes require students to remain in the country of study. LPDP have advised that if students are back in Indonesia they should stay home and continue their study by digital means.
Korea
Local media covered calls for Korean students to return home, and some cases of Korean students returning home and testing positive for the virus. In terms of student sentiment, both those abroad wanting to return home, and those in Korea wanting to defer study were reported. Local agents also reported negative sentiment towards the UK in light of the crisis. Some reported concerns were around the implication for visas - i.e. visa status if students cannot return to the UK after Easter due to border controls or flight availability.
Malaysia
The Malay Mail covered students returning home, with concerns over well-being and provision of healthcare in the UK, and concern over being able to return home later with increased border controls. Some agents also reported that a large proportion of Malaysian students are returning home.
Singapore
The attack on a Singaporean student in London prompted concern about safety in the UK, and was covered in Singaporean mainstream media and on social media.
The Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised all international students to return home, in order to avoid being at risk of infection and being caught in travel bans.
Parent concerns are reported to be around students being stranded due to travel bans, access to supplies and healthcare, and how will students complete courses if not able to return to the UK after summer.
Thailand
This report from BBC Thailand (in local language) covered students not trusting health care services in the UK and making decisions to return home.
Vietnam
https://vietnamnews.vn/sunday/features/653875/overseas-vietnamese-head-for-safety-of-home.html
Vietnam News covered overseas Vietnamese (including students) returning home, although with more of a focus on European countries and the US. Agents have also reported parents bringing students home, and new students deferring plans.
Commentary by Steve Corry, steven.corry@britishcouncil.org.hk
In light of media coverage and parent/student concerns that are driving students to return to home countries, we advise UK institutions to pivot their marketing communication messages away from direct student recruitment selling points for the time being, towards communicating what support is offered to international students studying at your institution. Communicating research stories is also an indirect way to communicate UK universities ongoing commitment to academic excellence, which may maintain awareness and positioning for whenever student mobility to the UK may regain normality in the future.
Please also note that we are providing advice to students on the Study UK website, and also directing enquiries towards the UKCISA website and of course students institution of study.