"Where do you want to go after graduation?"
“Tsinghua!”
Ten years ago, such answers were probably rare in Indonesian high schools.
But not long ago, when Jiang Delan, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology in Indonesia, visited a high school in Aceh Province and talked with students about their plans after graduation, many mentioned Chinese universities, rather than American prestigious schools like Harvard and Yale.
Obviously, the choices of young Indonesians for studying abroad are changing.
In the past, European and American universities were long considered the top choices among students in Southeast Asia. Nowadays, Chinese universities are beginning to attract more and more students.
This does not mean that Western traditional study destinations have lost their appeal. However, a new trend is emerging: as China’s higher education capabilities improve and its economic and trade relations with ASEAN deepen, more and more young people from Southeast Asia are beginning to see China as an important direction for learning and development.
One answer is changing.
June 14, 2026: The China Higher Education Exhibition was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo by Li Zhiquan, reporter from China News Service. IC Photo
This change is not just a few responses in Indonesian high school campuses.
Data shows that the number of Indonesian students in China has been growing over the past decade. According to data from the Indonesian Embassy in China, as of January this year, there are approximately 20,000 Indonesian students studying at Chinese universities, which is a 50% increase compared to about 13,000 students in 2016.
For an increasing number of young Indonesians, Chinese universities are becoming an important destination in their study abroad plans, moving from being less considered options in the past.
A report in the Singapore's Straits Times on June 29 documented this change—for an increasing number of Indonesian students, cities like Beijing in China have now become desirable destinations for studying, on a par with Boston, Melbourne, and London.
Twenty-year-old Aigineis Clairestasi Haridi is one of the driving forces behind this trend.
She graduated from a high school in Central Java Province in 2024. Currently, she is studying tourism management at Chongqing Jiaotong University and has received some scholarships.
She chose to study in China not only because Chinese universities offered new options, but also because she saw the opportunities brought by China's economic development.
Agnes said that China's huge economic scale, prospects for tourism development, and leading position in the field of artificial intelligence are important reasons that attracted her to visit China.
"China has a huge economic scale, with promising prospects in the tourism industry, and it also leads in the field of artificial intelligence. I hope to find a job here after graduation."
The courses she is studying are taught in English, but applicants must have a basic knowledge of Chinese. For her, Chinese universities offer not only professional education, but also connections to future employment and career development opportunities.
The change in the direction of studying abroad is reflected in the economic landscape that affects young people.
China has been Indonesia's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years, and in the past decade, it has become one of Indonesia's major sources of investment. Especially in industries such as nickel processing and new energy vehicle batteries, large-scale investments by Chinese enterprises are driving bilateral cooperation to a deeper level.
Both sides should deepen cooperation in the education field, especially in higher education. This will help create more employment opportunities in Indonesia. Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Wang Lutong said this.
Changes in educational choices often synchronize with industry needs.
As cooperation in fields such as new energy vehicles, digital economy, e-commerce, and manufacturing continues to expand, the demand for talents who are familiar with the Chinese market, capable of using Chinese language, and understand the operations of industrial chains also increases.
Jakarta, Indonesia - Two Indonesian students at the Jakarta High-Speed Rail Transportation Culture Exchange Base. Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Zhiquan photo IC
For some young people in Southeast Asia, studying in China means having the opportunity to join regional economic cooperation networks.
The development of Chinese universities themselves is also an important factor in enhancing their attractiveness.
Over the past few decades, China has continuously increased investment in higher education and scientific research systems. A number of universities have seen a growing capacity for scientific research in fields such as artificial intelligence, engineering technology, computer science, and materials science.
The British 'Financial Times' previously analyzed that Chinese universities have seen a continuous increase in international influence in recent years, and some institutions have already developed strong international competitiveness in scientific research fields. With increased investment in research, expanded international cooperation, and strengthened industrial ties, Chinese universities are attracting more international students.
At the same time, the international education environment is also changing.
Some Western traditional study abroad destinations, due to factors such as education costs and visa policies, have also prompted some international students to re-evaluate their choices of studying in different countries.
In contrast, Chinese universities have strong research capabilities in some fields and offer scholarships and other support measures, which makes China an increasingly attractive option for students from developing countries.
If you zoom out your gaze to encompass Southeast Asia as a whole, Indonesia is not the only country undergoing significant change.
The ASEAN region has long been an important area for China's international education cooperation. Data from the Ministry of Education shows that during the 2024-2025 academic year, Asian students accounted for more than 60% of international students in China. Southeast Asian countries are important sources of such students.
In fact, the connections between Chinese universities and ASEAN countries are expanding from simply exchanging students to areas such as enrollment promotion, joint training, and scientific research cooperation.
In recent years, Chinese higher education institutions have visited ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia. Universities like Peking University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have participated in these initiatives, introducing local students to their admission policies, strong disciplines, and scholarship programs.
These activities provide a more direct way for Southeast Asian students to learn about Chinese universities.
Meanwhile, Chinese universities are also strengthening their cooperation networks locally. The Teknik Universitas Indonesia in Bandung has partnered with China’s Central South University and the Shenzhen battery recycling company Greenme to establish a joint research laboratory, focusing on the cultivation of engineering and technical talents. Tsinghua University has also launched entrepreneurship and academic exchange programs with Indonesian educational institutions.
Similar cooperation is underway in more countries of ASEAN. From Jakarta to Bangkok, from Kuala Lumpur to Hanoi, the connections between Chinese universities and Southeast Asian universities are constantly expanding.
This change is due to the adjustment in the pattern of educational exchanges in Asia.
In the past, some Southeast Asian students chose Western universities more for the opportunity to join the traditional global elite system. Nowadays, more and more people are paying attention to development opportunities within Asia itself.
A change in an answer reflects changes in how a generation of young people observe the world.
For China, this means that the international appeal of its higher education is increasing; for young people in Southeast Asia, it also means that they are seeking a direction that is more aligned with future development.
And this change may just be beginning.
"What we do is provide opportunities for Indonesia's top talent to receive the best education and gain the best international perspective." Jiang Dai Lan told 《Hǎixiā Shíbào》 .
Wherever these opportunities may be. But for now, the best opportunities lie in China.
