Gaining a competitive edge

Wellington College China has witnessed steady growth in the number of expat students at its six schools in four cities over the past 15 years, reflecting foreigners' continued confidence in China's economy and development, says the group's top executive.

There are currently over 5,400 students at the group's Wellington and Hiba schools in Tianjin, Shanghai, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, and Nantong in Jiangsu province; and the student number has risen, says Joy Qiao Ying, founder and chairman of Wellington College China.

"Taking Wellington College International Shanghai as an example, there were over 300 students when it opened a decade ago. Now, we are near full capacity at over 1,600 students," says Qiao during an exclusive interview on Friday when the school celebrated its 10th anniversary.

"We're extremely lucky as a service provider in the education sector that has been riding on the giant, historical wave of China's rapid economic development," Qiao says.