International education programs attract visitors at China Education Expo

International education programs have attracted the attention of many students who intent to study overseas at the just concluded 2024 China Education Expo (CEE).

This year's CEE saw a significant surge in exhibitors in the cooperative education exhibition area, with nearly 40 participants, a 30 percent increase since the program's inception in 2021.

"I value the academic atmosphere at universities. As a student studying foreign languages, I think I should personally experience the customs and culture of a nation as I'm learning their language, because these are closely related to the language itself," said Ling Yun, a student at Beijing Normal University.

"When studying abroad, I will put safety first. I will also consider some preferential policies offered by the university, such as scholarships," said a student from Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province.

Many universities in Finland expressed their interest to cooperate with Chinese institutions for joint education projects.

"We are here to attract and recruit students to join our international programs. But at the same time, we look [for] cooperation, to have joint programs in China -- a joint institute here in China. We also look to cooperate in the field of research, development and innovation," said Jouni Ahonen, vice president of Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Finland.

Irish universities have cooperated with their Chinese peers in 106 joint education projects, covering undergraduate, postgraduate and higher vocational levels. The number of students studying in China-Ireland cooperative education projects has exceeded 10,000.

"In September this year, we launched two new joint education institutions. Moreover, there are three to five projects that are expected to be approved by the Ministry of Education this year," said Yang Jie, person in charge of "Education in Ireland."

According to the latest data from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), China is still the world's largest source of international students.

In order to attract Chinese students, various countries have taken measures to increase their global appeal. The UK has been increasing the number of scholarships, offering career guidance for graduates, and has built a platform for displaying students' works; Australia has provided free activities throughout the year; American high schools have promised to connect with high-quality universities; France has simplified the visa process.

Beginning on October 26, the expo was held in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chengdu and saw a steady increase in the number of participating institutions. In Beijing alone, the number of participating institutions went up 25 percent compared with last year.

The two-day event in Beijing attracted more than 380 colleges and institutions from 38 countries and regions, including France, Finland, and the United States.

The China Education Expo is organized by the China Education Association for International Exchange and held every October in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities since 2000. It is the largest student recruitment and B2B networking event in China, also an important part of the China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education.

International education programs attract visitors at China Education Expo

The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.

In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.

"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.

Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.

The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."

Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.

President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.

Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.

Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.

The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.

Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests