Mapping international student mobility between Africa and China

In this presentation Benjamin will introduce his recently published book. This book examines an emergent pattern of international student mobility: that of international students from across the African continent who are enrolled on degree programmes at Chinese universities. China is among the most popular destination countries for African students, yet there has been little research to-date into this emergent mobility pattern. Drawing on data from a series of interviews, the book focuses on the specific modalities of integration into the global economy of both the sending region and the host country, and examines how these shape the decision-making, experiences, and future aspirations of mobile students. It also highlights how incipient flows of international student migrants, such as those between various African countries and China, are calling into question a number of the axioms around the study of international study mobility that were developed with reference to more established migration patterns, which tend to flow from other regions to the West. In this presentation, Benjamin will also highlight some of the implications of this student flow for China’s interests in Africa and beyond, related to for example the promotion of Chinese influence in Africa, and the challenging of global discourses around political issues such as human rights in a way that is beneficial to the Chinese state.