From Beijing to Leeds via New Delhi, Jean Dong's high grades in English language did nothing to prepare her for the cultural shock she faced as she landed at Leeds Bradford airport, ready to take up her degree place at Leeds University.
"I was so unprepared really for the life I was embarking on," the now 32-year-old explained. "I had to learn what it is to have a barney, that a pint is something you drink and what a full English is. It was all so strange."
It is a shared experience of the many, in the pursuit of what was once a guarantee of a successful job back in China - a UK degree. It is estimated there are 80,000 privately funded Chinese students at UK universities and this figure is predicted to rise beyond 100,000 by 2012 - 70% of those studying are on business-related courses – economics, finance, marketing and accounting.
But although student numbers keep increasing the possibilities of employment have been decreasing. Companies in China are wary of employing someone who has studied in the UK, seeing absenteeism from the local market as a distinct disadvantage. Employers also feel a disparity between graduate expectation and the level of jobs they are qualified for. It is now quite certain simply having an overseas degree is no longer a passport to a high salary or even to a job.
The shining lights of the country are now seen as the element suffocating prosperity and opportunity for economic growth. As the Chinese put it 'the sea turtles have turned into sea weed'. In fact unemployment figures for returning graduates are so high, the Chinese government has taken steps to reverse this trend of The Unemployment Problem for Overseas Educated.
To bridge the gap the government is seeking greater relationships with education providers and industry, turning to companies such as Barkers Global, where Jean has been able to put her experiences of trying to fit into another culture to good use, on its internship programme.
The idea is to give graduates work experience in preparation for their return to China and at the same time teach them about the customs and culture of the UK, so they no longer feel alien. A collaboration between employment marketing specialist Barkers and investment and consultancy company Global Education Group, Barkers Global acts as a go-between, finding work placements for Chinese graduates in UK companies which are either expanding into China or have a Chinese connection.
Managing director Jean said: "Placing students into UK companies working on Chinese-based projects, make the internships particularly relevant and make the students highly employable, both in the UK and back in China. It's East meets West, in background and outlook."
The focus is preparing the graduate for work in both countries - making them truly global. "We now have relationships with big multinationals like Reuters and Standard Charter Bank to name a couple," she continued.
Jean has put what she learnt about the British system into workshops in UK culture and seminars on interview and presentation skills to prepare graduating Chinese students for competing with their British peers on assessment days.
"The idea of an assessment centre where you are expected to fight for your place, to be forceful, to push yourself forward is somewhat alien to the Chinese. Our culture is to be more humble, patient, and reserved," Jean explained.
"It was almost as much of a shock coming to London as it was arriving in Leeds for me. Leeds was so different – the language, the people, the pace of life – all different to London – I understand now having been here for nearly 10 years how diverse a culture the UK is.
"Our workshops aim to teach the graduates about the society/people and culture – to enhance their knowledge by showing them how to make the most of their UK experience."
These super qualified graduates point to a new generation of a global workforce, no longer confined by cultural differences or by geographical boundaries. And as such will be highly employable and fierce competition for their British peers.
