{"id":16080,"date":"2025-05-01T08:14:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T08:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/?p=16080"},"modified":"2025-05-01T09:20:37","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T09:20:37","slug":"baiyu-liu-kclsu-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focus.cbbc.org\/baiyu-liu-kclsu-president\/","title":{"rendered":"Raising the voice of Chinese students in UK universities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the first Chinese student elected President of King\u2019s College London Students\u2019 Union, <\/strong>Baiyu Liu advocates for greater integration of Chinese students in UK universities. Here, he writes exclusively for FOCUS on how universities can better foster two-way cultural exchange<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a Chinese Computer Science student who grew up in the UK, I have had the privilege of navigating both Chinese and Western cultures. This dual perspective has given me insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by Chinese students in British universities. Recently, I made history by becoming the first Chinese student elected as President of the King\u2019s College London Students\u2019 Union (KCLSU). My election victory represents a personal milestone and highlights how Chinese students can engage meaningfully in university life when supported. However, it also underscores a broader issue: despite being the largest group of international students in the UK, Chinese students remain underrepresented in student politics and cultural spheres. Addressing this requires understanding the interplay of language barriers, cultural perceptions, and the absence of Chinese soft power.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Chinese students contribute significantly to the UK\u2019s economy and universities, often paying triple the tuition fees of home students. Our parents view this as an investment in our education and exposure to a new culture, with the connections we forge often proving more valuable than the degree itself. Yet, many of us feel like little more than a revenue stream for universities. At King\u2019s College London, Chinese students form the largest international demographic, yet our presence in the Students\u2019 Union was historically negligible. This lack of representation meant our concerns, such as delays in receiving physical degree certificates, which can disrupt job applications or civil service exam deadlines in China, were struggling to be heard. My campaign for KCLSU President sought to change this by mobilising Chinese students, a group often politically apathetic, through targeted outreach on platforms like Rednote (Xiaohongshu) and Instagram, and by addressing issues like digital degree certificates, access to Chinese food, and hot water dispensers on campus. During my campaign, I worked alongside a fantastic team of students to reach out to the wider student community, with a particular emphasis on engaging Chinese students whose voices had historically been underrepresented. This sparked unprecedented engagement in a KCLSU election. I am deeply grateful to my campaign team and all those who supported and believed in the vision of making student representation more inclusive. Their efforts were invaluable in reaching and inspiring a broader range of students across King’s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The underrepresentation of Chinese students extends beyond politics to the cultural fabric of universities. Japanese and Korean student societies attract diverse members, including British students, drawn by the global appeal of anime, K-pop, and other forms of soft power. In contrast, Chinese student societies are often homogeneously Chinese, reflecting a lack of broader interest in Chinese culture. This disparity raises questions about why Chinese culture struggles to resonate with Western youth. Part of the issue lies in soft power: while Japan and Korea export globally recognised bands, films, and stars, China\u2019s cultural exports\u2014like the success of Ne Zha 2<\/em> or interest in Chinese cuisine\u2014remain less prominent. However, the appetite for Chinese culture exists, as seen in viral livestreams by creators like iShowSpeed. Universities could bridge this gap by fostering cultural exchange through inclusive events and encouraging Chinese student leaders to promote their heritage in ways that resonate with diverse audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n