Hassan Siddiq

At the peak of Cultural Revolution, almost 50 years ago, it would have been impossible to envision a mass exodus of Chinese-educated youth to universities in the United States, where capitalism reigned supreme. Fast forward to today, many Chinese students skip local university entrance exams and apply to American colleges, which leave no stone unturned in recruiting them. The factors behind the change have as much to do with shifts in financial power as with the emphasis on globalization and diversity touted by the universities.