How the BRI Scholarship as an effort in internationalization of higher education benefits China in decades ahead?

Chinese Government’s strategic view on establishing community of destiny and sharing mutual benefit with the BRIC through internationalization of higher education has been around even before the existing scholarships being repackaged and implemented as BRI scholarship in 2016. The Chinese leadership’s anticipating outcome from this relationship strengthening effort is far-viewed with multi-dimensional indirect benefits although many argued the effort is overly-costly and outcome being uncertain. China now being the third most chosen destination country for international students study aboard, continues to have foreign student enrolment on both degree and non-degree programs increase yearly. In 2018, the ratio of scholarship sponsored student was 12.81 percent which include over 63,000 granted scholarships from among 1000 plus institutions. In the recent years, student from Asia, Africa and Europe benefited from over 90 percent of the BRI Scholarship. The number of scholarships and bilateral government agreements with foreign countries continues to increase. This study is to investigate what are the Chinese leadership hopes for in return decades ahead? By understanding the strategic plan on internationalization of higher education, one could have better understanding and appreciation on the Chinese government’s far-viewed mindset.