Chinese Students At University Of Michigan: A Large Presence?

The University of Michigan has a large international student population, with around 6,680 international students out of a total of 47,907 students. China is the largest contributor to this number, with an estimated 3,164 students in 2018. This number has been steadily increasing, with an average growth rate of 8% over the last few years. The University of Michigan has strong partnerships with Chinese institutions and has been working to build a mutually beneficial relationship with China. However, there have been some concerns raised by US House Republicans about the potential risks of the partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University to national security and academic research integrity.

Chinese students make up a large proportion of international students at the University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a popular destination for international students, with approximately 6,680 international students out of a total of 47,907 students in 2020. International students make up about 13.9% of the student body. The University of Michigan ranks 11th out of 1,279 colleges and universities for popularity with international students.

China is the largest contributor to the growth of the international student population at the University of Michigan, with an estimated total of 3,164 students in 2020. This number has grown at an average rate of 8.0% over the last several years. Chinese students could account for as much as 6.6% of the entire student body and as much as 47.4% of the international student body.

The University of Michigan has a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with Chinese institutions. In 2005, former University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman travelled to China and signed a series of agreements of cooperation with Chinese universities. The University of Michigan has also established partnerships with Chinese universities, such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Peking University Health Science Center. These partnerships include joint institutes, research collaborations, and student exchanges.

The University of Michigan offers a variety of resources and programs for Chinese students, including the Confucius Institute at the University of Michigan (CIUM), which focuses on the promotion of Chinese arts and culture, and the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies, which offers courses, interdisciplinary master's degree programs, and postdoctoral fellowships.

However, there have been some concerns raised about the partnership between the University of Michigan and Chinese universities. In 2024, U.S. House Republicans urged the university to end its partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University due to national security concerns. Federal charges were filed against five Chinese students at the University of Michigan who photographed a U.S. military exercise.

The number of Chinese students at the University of Michigan has been increasing

The University of Michigan has a long history of collaboration with China, and the number of Chinese students at the university has been increasing. In 1980, 318 Chinese students were enrolled at the University of Michigan (U-M); by 2015, this number had risen to 3,024, and in 2018, there were 3,164 Chinese students on campus. This increase in Chinese students is part of a broader trend of growing international student enrollment at U-M, with international students making up about 13.9% of the student body in 2020.

U-M has actively cultivated partnerships with Chinese institutions, and these partnerships have contributed to the increasing number of Chinese students at the university. In 2005, U-M President Mary Sue Coleman traveled to China and signed agreements of cooperation with several Chinese universities. During her trip, Coleman met with officials from the Chinese Ministry of Education, who requested that Michigan host a forum for Chinese higher education leaders. The Michigan-China University Leadership Forum was convened in 2006, bringing together U-M faculty and administrators with Chinese educational leaders and officials from national educational agencies. The forum led to a long list of new initiatives and an emphasis on improving the student experience.

In addition to the Michigan-China University Leadership Forum, U-M has established several other partnerships with Chinese institutions. The Joint Institute, a collaboration between U-M and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, offers a variety of engineering degrees with a curriculum adapted from Michigan's. The Joint Institute has won several national awards and has a high percentage of graduates who go on to pursue graduate degrees. U-M has also developed partnerships with Fudan University, the Peking University Health Science Center, and the West China School of Medicine of Sichuan University, among others.

However, the partnership between U-M and Chinese institutions has also faced some challenges and security concerns. In 2024, five Chinese students from U-M were charged with conspiracy, making false statements, and destroying records during a federal countersurveillance probe at a U.S. military training exercise. This incident led to calls from U.S. House Republicans for the university to end its partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, citing risks to U.S. academic research integrity and the university's connections to Chinese military innovation. Despite these concerns, the University of Michigan continues to foster collaborations and exchanges with Chinese institutions, and the number of Chinese students at the university is expected to remain high.

The University of Michigan has a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with Chinese institutions

The University of Michigan is a popular destination for international students, with around 6,680 international students on campus, making up about 13.9% of the student body. The university is particularly popular with Chinese students, with an estimated total of 3,164 Chinese students in 2018. This makes China the largest contributor to the growth of the international student population at the university, with an average growth rate of 8.0% over the last several years.

In addition to its partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the University of Michigan also has a number of resources for conducting research in Chinese Studies. The Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies, for example, has a stunning collection of rare propaganda papercuts from the Cultural Revolution. The University of Michigan Library also provides access to a number of full-text databases and digital collections on China, making it a premier institution for research on Chinese dance in North America.

The University of Michigan's relationship with Chinese institutions has come under scrutiny in recent years, with concerns raised about national security risks. However, the university continues to host students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and collaborate on research projects, indicating a strong and ongoing relationship between the two countries' academic institutions.

The University of Michigan has received backlash for its ties to Chinese universities

The University of Michigan has received criticism for its ties to Chinese universities, specifically its partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University. In 2024, a letter from the House's China Select Committee urged the University of Michigan to end its collaboration with the Chinese institute, stating that it plays a "critical role" in the Chinese Communist Party's military-civil fusion strategy. The letter, written by committee Chair Rep. John Moolenaar, expressed concern that the partnership may be facilitating the transfer of sensitive US technologies and research to the Chinese defense and research industrial base. The committee's report highlighted that the institute has received funding from China's 863 Program, which supports military technology development, and that researchers have contributed to advancements in defense technologies, including those for the People's Liberation Army.

The University of Michigan's response to this criticism has been to defend its partnership with Shanghai Jiao Tong University. In a statement, university spokesman Rick Fitzgerald asserted that the school has "complete confidence" in its approach to the matter. Furthermore, the university has highlighted the benefits of the collaboration, including enhanced student learning, faculty intellectual engagement, and the fostering of international education and faculty development. The joint institute has also received recognition, winning the IIE Andrew Heiskell Award in 2014 for best practices in international partnerships.

Despite the university's defense, the controversy surrounding its ties to Chinese universities has persisted. In March 2024, a journalist from the Washington Free Beacon filed a Freedom of Information Act request to seek information about the University of Michigan's $25 million research partnership with the Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation. The university responded by requesting a fee of over $1,200 to provide the information, which is uncommon for such requests. This response has sparked further criticism and concerns about transparency.

The University of Michigan is not the only institution facing scrutiny over its ties to China. The House Select Committee on China Competition found that several leading American universities, including Texas A&M University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Emory University, and the University of Texas-Austin, have reported funds from the Chinese government. In addition, Confucius Institutes, which are common on American college campuses, have been labeled as "foreign missions" by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. These institutes are seen as advancing Beijing's global propaganda and influence campaign in the US.

The University of Michigan has a China Initiative to promote Chinese arts and culture

The University of Michigan is home to a diverse range of international students, with approximately 6,680 international students out of a total of 47,907 students. The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is particularly popular with Chinese students, with an estimated total of 3,164 Chinese students on campus in 2018, making it the largest contributor to the growth of the international student population at the university.

The University of Michigan has demonstrated a commitment to promoting Chinese arts and culture through various initiatives and programs. One notable example is the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies, which is part of a larger initiative to establish the university as the premier institution for research on Chinese dance in North America. The Lieberthal-Rogel Center boasts an impressive collection of rare propaganda papercuts from the Cultural Revolution, which have been digitised and made accessible through the University Library Digital Library Production Service.

In addition, the University of Michigan Library offers an extensive range of digital resources for students and researchers interested in Chinese Studies. This includes full-text databases, digital libraries, and online periodicals, such as the "Chinese Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Taiwan)." The library also provides access to specialised collections, such as "The Pioneers of Chinese Dance," which features digital photographs and oral histories, making the history of twentieth-century Chinese dance more accessible to international researchers.

Furthermore, the University of Michigan has hosted panel discussions on topics related to China, such as the China Initiative and its impact on Chinese professors in American universities. The university also strives to foster an understanding of Chinese arts and culture through campus and community events, exhibitions, lectures, and documentary screenings, creating a vibrant environment for exploring and celebrating Chinese culture.

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