Gaining a competitive edge

"Increasingly, I hear multinational companies say they are in China not just because it is a big market or a place for manufacturing but because the country is attractive for its massive talent pool across disciplines and industries and its global perspective and linguistic ability," she says.

By staying in Shanghai, and with China being one of the largest international school markets globally, expat children enjoy top－quality education that they might not have access to in their home countries. This is one attraction or competitive advantage for expats to live and work in China, says Qiao.

Wellington College China schools, for which the annual tuition fees in Shanghai range from 166,000 yuan ($23,000) to 380,000 yuan, have students from more than 50 countries and regions around the world, especially from the United States, the United Kingdom and other European countries. Many children also come from South Africa, Southeast Asian countries, Australia and Canada, among others.

Parents work in all sectors in China. "Taking our Shanghai schools as an example, the diverse areas relevant to technology and innovation — clean energy, electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals, finance, and advanced manufacturing — have representation in our parent body," says Qiao.