Visiting scholars now come from many fields

Program includes wide range of professionals, some of whom also take their children along

Visiting-scholar programs, once used mainly by university teachers to further their studies or research abroad, are gaining in popularity among professionals of other industries and sectors, overseas study agents said.

Zhang Weiyong, director of the United States division of Golden Orient, an overseas study consultancy in Beijing, said that since the beginning of the year, the agency has successfully helped about 400 people attend self-paid visiting-scholar programs at universities abroad. Among them are lawyers, hospital doctors, employees of domestic media, and managers or leaders of companies and enterprises.