by Xinhua writers Zhang Yisheng, Cao Kai, and Li Fuyu
JAKARTA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- "I want to go to a university in China to study traditional Chinese medicine," said Yesyka, hugging a thick pile of admission leaflets.
At the China Higher Education Exhibition, held in Jakarta on Sunday, Yesyka said she had already spent more than two hours in the bustling hall. "I am simply spoiled for choice."
The one-day event featured 34 leading Chinese universities, colleges, and higher education institutions, including Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU).
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Chen Wu, a counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia, said that the exhibition brought together numerous prestigious Chinese universities, covering a wide range of academic fields, including science, engineering, medicine, and the humanities.
It fully demonstrated the high-quality resources and diversified development of Chinese higher education, Chen said, expressing hope that through this expo, more young Indonesian students would gain a deeper understanding of China's educational system and professional advantages.
Currently, more than 15,000 Indonesian students are studying in China. Excellent teaching quality and promising career prospects are key factors behind the growing appeal of studying in China.
Wei Bing, dean of the College of International Education at Guilin Medical University, said that the school combines theoretical teaching with clinical practice. At the same time, it offers introductory courses in traditional Chinese medicine for international students and enables them to deepen their understanding of traditional Chinese culture through various cultural experiences.
"Today, some of the international students have already returned home after completing their studies, serving the local healthcare sector," he said.
Meanwhile, the deepening of economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia has made the Chinese language a "career booster" for young Indonesians.
Miska, who hails from Pontianak in West Kalimantan province, stood before the BFSU booth for a long time. After graduating from a Confucius Institute in 2018, she successfully joined a Chinese firm operating in Indonesia.
"Learning Chinese helped me find a good job, but the longer I interact with Chinese culture, the deeper my longing becomes," Miska said. Having studied Chinese for 10 years, she now hopes to use the language as a vessel to carry her toward deeper knowledge in China.
Notably, enthusiasm for studying in China at the event is showing a trend toward younger demographics and earlier planning.
Li Weiming, a teacher at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, told Xinhua that many of those who came to consult in the morning were tenth-grade students. They showed a keen interest in language requirements for studying abroad as well as major selection.
"I noticed that many Indonesian students start planning their academic directions very early, preparing themselves in terms of academics and capabilities well in advance," Li said.
Veldesen Yaputra, an Indonesian student now pursuing a master's degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing, shared via the internet: "Seeing these younger peers from my hometown feels like looking at myself a few years ago. Back then, I also dreamed of studying in China."
"I want to say to the young friends in Indonesia: step forward bravely. Chinese universities will become an important stage for you to see the world, grow yourselves, and transform your hometowns," he said.■
