A report led by former universities minister Jo Johnson and published by King’s College London (KCL) has highlighted the significant increase in British research papers published with Chinese co-authors over the past decade. The report emphasizes that Chinese students and research engagement with China are the primary sources of international fee income for UK research-intensive universities. However, this heavy reliance on China has exposed British universities to considerable risk amidst the deteriorating relationship between the Chinese Communist Party and liberal democracies worldwide.
To address this issue, the report suggests that allowing domestic fees to increase with inflation would be the most effective solution. Despite this, the higher education sector still adopts a “cross your fingers” approach, hoping that de-coupling from China will not be necessary in the future. The report emphasizes that the UK’s research ties with China are more pervasive than with Russia, making it essential for universities to plan for a potential decoupling.
This report follows a warning issued by a higher education regulator in June, which stated that England’s universities are financially vulnerable due to their over-reliance on Chinese and other international students.
The KCL report reveals that the proportion of British research papers involving Chinese collaboration has increased by more than four times in the last decade. In 2021, around 10% of all British research articles and reviews were done in partnership with Chinese co-authors, compared to only 1% in 2000. The report also notes that Chinese collaboration in British research exceeds Germany’s share and is catching up to the United States’ contribution, which accounts for approximately 19% of UK research publications.
The research partnerships with China have primarily focused on technology-related fields, where Chinese researchers have contributed significantly. For instance, between 2017 and 2021, 45.5% of publications on automation control systems involving British scientists had Chinese co-authors. Similar collaborations were observed in telecommunications, electrical engineering, artificial intelligence, computer information systems, and various engineering disciplines.
The report cautions against interpreting these collaborations as technological infiltration with security implications but acknowledges their relevance in the de-risking strategy. Overall, the report highlights the substantial growth in international collaborations in British research, which has risen from around 10% to over 20% in the past four decades.
While recent data shows the number of new Indian students surpassing Chinese students in the UK, Chinese students still make up a significant source of income for higher education institutions. In the 2021/22 academic year, there was a 6% decline in first-degree Chinese students compared to the previous year, while EU students decreased by 21%. However, Chinese demand for British higher education has shifted to postgraduate degrees, with a 6% increase in Chinese students studying master’s degrees.
Notably, Chinese students are concentrated in “most selective” and expensive institutions in the UK. Russell Group universities accounted for 75% of all doctoral students from China in 2017, and this figure increased to 80% in 2021.
To reduce dependency on foreign student fees, the report suggests increasing fees for domestic students, as the current fee cap of £9,250 has remained virtually unchanged for the past decade. The report emphasizes that teaching UK students at this level will be financially unsustainable for many higher education institutions, leaving them with no option but to rely on international students whose fees are unregulated. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the need for system-wide contingency planning, including clear criteria for potential de-coupling scenarios, to help universities navigate such challenges.