Bridging the Unbridged: A Case Study of a U.S. University’s Study Abroad Program in Beijing

Oct 15, 2026

Examines Beijing’s Overseas Learning Program (L University) to explain how a China-based study abroad program for U.S. students is actually operated. Using a multilevel, multiperspective approach, the research analyzes the cooperative institution’s mechanisms and the logical factors behind student choices. Findings highlight decisive peer influence, while the study also weighs internal and external drivers, offering policy recommendations to strengthen U.S.-China overseas study exchange.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages22

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Purpose

Design/Approach/Methods

Findings

Originality/Value

Introduction

Overview of U.S. Students Studying Abroad in China

Bridging the Unbridged: A Case Study of a U.S. University’s Study Abroad Program in Beijing Yong Wang, Ke Li and Yuan Zhang Peking University ECNU Review of Education 2020, Vol. 3(2) 269–290 ª The Author(s) 2020 Article reuse guidelines: [sagepub.com/journals-permissions](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[ ](sagepub.com/journals-permissions)[DOI: 10.1177/2096531120916929](DOI: 10.1177/2096531120916929)[ ](DOI: 10.1177/2096531120916929)[journals.sagepub.com/home/roe](journals.sagepub.com/home/roe) Abstract Purpose: Studying abroad isan importantway for universitiesto cultivatetalentwith internationalvision and global competitiveness. Based on [its analysis of a U.S. university](its analysis of a U.S. university)’s study in China program, this study provides policy recommendationsto promotethe overseas study and exchange of U.S. students in China. Design/Approach/Methods: This study examines the Beijing Overseas Learning Program of L University to examine the actual operations of a study abroad program in China. More specifically, this study examines the cooperative institution where the U.S. study program is located in China to analyze the operation mechanism and underlying logical framework of the program. Findings: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the logical factors as well as internal and external reasons behind U.S. students’ decisions to study in China. This study demonstrates that the “peer factor” has a decisive influence on students’ decisions to study in China. Originality/Value: Study abroad programs constitute an integral part of China’s initiatives to enhance people-to-people exchanges with other countries. This study improves our understanding of the practical dynamics of study abroad programs in China, thereby enhancing abilities to attract U.S. students to study in China. Corresponding author: Yong Wang, Office of International Relations, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China. [Email: wangyong@pku.edu.cn](Email: wangyong@pku.edu.cn) Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages ([https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage](https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage)). Keywords International exchange program, overseas learning, Peking University, U.S. students in China Date received: 1 January 2019; accepted: 12 March 2020 Introduction In China, short-term study abroad programs are an integral part of the country’s overseas education initiatives in the new era. China is actively courting international students from world-class universities to study in the country on a short-term basis, believing that international educational exchange will cultivate greater knowledge of and friendliness toward China. The majority of domestic studies on short-term study abroad programs in China have been conducted at the macro-level. In contrast, this study adopts the perspective of local cooperative institutions asso[ciated with U.S. study](ciated with U.S. study) abroad programs in China. Adopting a multilevel and multiperspective approach, this study observes and analyzes the actual operations of a U.S. study abroad program in China and its development life cycle. In doing so, this study explores the practical mechanism behind U.S. students’ overseas education in China, as well as the macro-environment affecting program development. Examining the operational mechanism and logical framework underlying the program, this study provides policy recommendations to promote the overseas study and exchange of U.S. students in China. Sachau et al. (2010) divide short-term study abro

FAQs

What is the purpose of the study?

The study aims to analyze a U.S. university’s study in China program and provide policy recommendations to promote overseas study and exchange for U.S. students in China.

How does the research investigate the program?

It examines the Beijing Overseas Learning Program of L University, focusing on the cooperative institution to analyze the operation mechanism and underlying logical framework.

What key factor influences U.S. students’ decisions to study in China?

The “peer factor” is shown to have a decisive influence on students’ decisions to study in China.

Oct 15, 2026

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