They're flooding in, so open the gates

Influx of international students gives nation edge in global education

It wasn't too long ago that a multinational company sending an executive to China would have considered it a "hardship posting" - the perceived hardship alleviated by generous living allowances and attractive perks.

But as the new century dawned and China increasingly became a key market for most multinationals, savvy executives - both senior and junior - didn't mind seeing those allowances and perks cut just to burnish their CVs with a vital qualification: a stint, or longer, in a place where careers were being made and places on the board beckoned.