國人艱辛出國留學 到底值不值

With the release of the Annual Report on the Development of Chinese Returnees, concerns regarding the cost of studying abroad and the future benefits are rising among both students and parents. According to the report, it takes most overseas returnees at least five years to earn back their study abroad costs.

在2013年度《中國海歸發展報告》發佈之際，留學成本與未來收益也愈發引發學生與家長的擔憂。該報告中稱，大部分海歸至少需要五年時間才能收回留學成本。

If it is worth the investment made to obtain a foreign degree has always been a issue concerning the growing trend of studying abroad in recent years.

近年來隨着“出國潮”熱度的不斷攀升，投資“洋學位”到底值不值，一直是人們關心的話題。

In order to find out if studying abroad is still a worthwhile investment, 21st Century talked to experts in related fields.

爲弄清留學投資是否值得，《二十一世紀英文報》特地採訪了相關領域的專家。

More students are returning after studying abroad

海歸人數暴增

Despite the heated debates about the value of overseas study, there has been a steady increase in the number of students going abroad.

雖然關於留學含金量的爭論愈演愈烈，但出國留學生人數一直穩步上升。

According to the Chinese Ministry of Education, the number of Chinese students who studied abroad increased by 17.7 percent from 2011 to 2012. A total of 399,600 Chinese students went to study abroad last year.

2012年間，我國出國留學生數量增長了17.7%。去年，出國留學人數達到39.96萬人。

The US is certainly benefiting from Chinese students’ ambition to study abroad: according to the US-based Institute of International Education’s Open Doors 2013 report, which provides detailed data on student flows into and out of the US, during the 2012/13 academic year, Chinese student enrollments increased by 21.4 percent to more than 235,000.

美國無疑從中國的留學潮中收益頗豐：根據美國國際教育研究所發佈的《2013年門戶開放報告》（該報告就美國國際學生的流動性給出詳細數據）顯示，在2012至2013學年，在美中國留學生人數增長了21.4%，總人數達到23.5萬人。

Similarly, the number of overseas returnees is surging, especially since 2008 when developed countries were greatly affected by the economic crisis. In 2009, the number of returnees, for the first time, surpassed 100,000 and this has increased at an annual rate of about 50 percent ever since.

與此同時，海歸的人數也在猛增，特別是自從2008年金融危機席捲各發達國家之後。2009年，海歸人數首次突破10萬，此後，這一數字一直以每年約50%的速度增長。

Various reasons contribute to this growing trend, with family issues believed to be the primary one. According to Wang Huiyao, the report’s author, most students are only children and tend to depend on their parents. Besides, the economic situation in China has boosted returnees’ confidence in a future career at home.

造成這一增長趨勢的原因有很多，家庭因素被認爲是首要原因。該報告的編著者王輝耀表示，大部分學生都是獨生子女，往往依賴於父母。此外，中國大好的經濟形勢也增強了海歸們回國就業的信心。

Surging cost

高漲的費用

Accompanying the increase in the number of students leaving and returning to China is the increase in the study abroad costs. According to the Open Doors 2013 report, international students pay an average of 135,000 yuan per year to attend a public university in the US, a 3.1 percent increase on the previous year.

隨着中國留學生與海歸人數的增長，留學的花費也在一路走高。根據美國《2013年門戶開放報告》顯示，進入美國公立大學的留學生平均每年需支付13.5萬元人民幣的費用，較上一年增長了3.1%。

A separate report by the China Consumers’ Association on study abroad consumption suggests that in hot study abroad destinations like Boston, New York and Chicago, 200,000 yuan is needed annually for the tuition fee. The report also reveals that students need another 80,000 to 100,000 yuan to cover living costs.

根據中國消費者協會發布的另一份留學消費報告顯示，在像波士頓、紐約、芝加哥這樣的留學熱門城市，每年需要支付20萬元的學費。該報告還指出，除了學費之外，學生們還需要準備8-10萬元的生活費。

Good career prospects

美好的職業前景

Even if the cost is high, most returnees believe their overseas experience is worthwhile and helpful for their career. The annual report reveals that 86 percent of returnees found a job within six months. However, their salary is not always satisfactory. Only 22.5 percent of returnees say their job offer meets their expectations, according to the Annual Report on the Development of Chinese Returnees.

儘管費用高昂，大部分海歸仍認爲自己的留學經歷物有所值且有助於事業發展。2013年度《中國海歸發展報告》稱，86%的海歸能在6個月內找到工作。然而，他們的薪水卻並不盡如人意。該報告顯示，只有22.5%的海歸表示工作符合預期。

Hao Jian, chief consultant at Zhilian Recruiting, thinks returnees’ high expectations for their salary are reasonable, but it’s wise to focus more on the job prospects than the money. “The advantages returnees have should not be underestimated. Though they may need five years to earn back the study abroad costs, with the right career plan, they’ll have a tremendous future,” he says.

智聯招聘首席人力資源顧問郝建表示，海歸對於薪水的高期望是合理的，但明智之舉是更加關注職業前景而不是金錢。他說：“不要低估海歸們的優勢。雖然他們也許要五年時間才能收回留學成本，但在正確的職業規劃的指引下，他們可謂前途無量。”

His view is echoed in the 2013 Survey Report on Overseas Returnees’ Employability. The report, published by the Education International Cooperation Group (EIC Group), found that returnees’ salaries see a big increase in the long run. The average salary for a returnee with less than three years of work experience is 149,700 yuan a year. But returnees with more than seven years of experience can earn an average of 222,700 yuan a year. Employees with no overseas experience do not enjoy such rapid increases in their salary.

他的觀點在啓德教育集團發佈的《2013海歸就業力調查報告》中得到了驗證。該報告指出，從長遠來看，海歸的薪水會有大幅度提升。工作經驗少於三年的海歸平均年薪在14.97萬元，而具備7年以上工作經驗的海歸年薪則可以達到22.27萬元。薪水增長之快，令沒有留學經歷的職員們望塵莫及。

“Good command of a foreign language, an international point of view, a large network and a comprehensive set of skills are the advantages of returnees,” says Zhang Yang, general manager of EIC’s overseas education department. “As long as they get used to the work environment and gain some experience, they’ll have a good opportunity for promotion.”

啓德教育集團留學事業部總經理張楊（音譯）表示：“外語能力強、有國際視野、人脈廣、技能全面，這些都是海歸的優勢。只要他們適應工作環境並積累經驗，他們就有很大的升職機會。”