Safety a growing concern among students overseas

A student attends the 2015 China Education Expo in Beijing, Oct 25, 2015. [Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/China Daily]

Chinese embassies and consulates have seen big increase in complaints

Safety has become a major concern for China's overseas students, according to a report released by a think tank on Monday.

Embassies and consulates handled more than 100,000 reports including robbery, intentional injury and sexual assault from Chinese abroad in 2016.

The figure represents a sharp increase from the previous year, in which there were 36,800 incidents, according to the 2017 Report on the Development of Chinese Students Studying Abroad.

About 1.36 million Chinese studied abroad in 2016, more than any other country.

The annual report, published by the Center for China and Globalization, said reports about safety fell into three categories: personal safety, psychological safety and the security of property.

The report found that more than 65 percent of students abroad felt that danger was a random problem and had been exaggerated by media reports. Only 27.4 percent thought it was a serious problem that should be immediately tackled.

Wang Yaohui, director of the center, said that more knowledge about safety problems and lifesaving techniques should be taught in schools, education agencies and language training institutions before sending students overseas.

"Students should also keep in frequent contact with their parents, friends, student unions and the local embassy and consulate, as well as be familiar with local laws and regulations," Wang said.

China is the largest source of international students in English-speaking countries, as well as in Asia.

However, Yang Qun, chief editor of Social Sciences Academic Press, said measures should be taken to create a safer environment for students abroad, since there is growing concern as more students go overseas.

Miao Lu, secretary-general of the center, said: "With frequent terrorist attacks in the US and Europe, students and their parents are becoming more cautious now when it comes to studying abroad."