As learned from the Exhibition for Achievements of Start-up by Returned Overseas-trained Chinese, 77.61 percent of the incumbent presidents under the direct control of the Ministry of Education have ever been studying abroad and 62.31 percent of tutors for students studying for doctorate are returned overseas Chinese students. 

As learned from the Exhibition for Achievements of Start-up by Returned Overseas-trained Chinese, 77.61 percent of the incumbent presidents under the direct control of the Ministry of Education have ever been studying abroad and 62.31 percent of tutors for students studying for doctorate are returned overseas Chinese students.

In addition, returned overseas-trained Chinese talents account for 81 percent of academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 54 percent of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and 72 percent of chief scientists for the 863 Program, China's government sponsored hi-tech project, in the Ninth Five-year Plan.

The surge of overseas study has played an important role both in the development of China's education, sci-tech research, economy, culture and society and in promotion of China's opening-up and international exchanges. It has bred a new generation of academic leadership capable of communicating with the world's academic circle and a batch of management mainstays having international experience.

As a result, new disciplines have sprung up and new textbooks and teaching method have been introduced in. The gap of sci-tech research between China and the world has been narrowed with some disciplines up to the international leading standard. Enormous direct economic returns have been generated. An extensive network for international academic exchanges has already been established here. Contribution has been made for the development of the remote areas in west China, areas in hardship, and grassroot departments. It keeps a good stock of specialized senior talents for China in the overseas.

According to the statistics of the Ministry of Personnel, more than 2500 students and scholars have returned to China from overseas against all odds and setbacks ever since the founding of the PRC and 1950s. They include famous scientists Qian Xuesen, Li Siguang, Deng Jiaxian and Wu Wenjun. Over 18,000 students were sent to study abroad by the government in the period of 1950s and 1960s. They all returned to homeland as scheduled after they finished their study overseas.

Among the first group of members of the Academic Committee in Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1955, returned overseas Chinese scholars accounted for as much as 92 percent. 21 of the 23 medal winners awarded for their special contribution to China's development of "two bombs and one satellite" (A-bomb and H-bomb) are the returned overseas-trained scholars.

(By People's Daily Online)