On September 9, the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services will open at Shougang Park in Beijing.

As one of the nine core thematic areas, this year’s developments in the education services sector are worth noting for all families interested in international education. Centered around the theme “Building a Strong Nation through Education, Innovating the Future with Intelligence,” the event has, for the first time, established a dedicated zone for cross-border expansion of educational services. Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission… Wei Xubin It was made clear that this year’s education-themed session will highlight achievements such as the upgrade of the “Study in Beijing” brand, the substantive development of Sino‑foreign cooperative educational programs, and the institutionalization of regular inter‑university exchanges between China and other countries, with the goal of “facilitating two-way flows of educational resources both domestically and internationally, and enhancing the international influence and competitiveness of the capital’s education system.”

Meanwhile, the China–Shanghai Cooperation Organization Center for Basic Education Cooperation will be officially inaugurated at the opening ceremony of the education-themed exhibition. The number of Fortune 500 companies and industry-leading enterprises participating in the event has increased by 66% compared with last year, with key universities such as Peking University, Beijing Institute of Technology, and Beihang, as well as renowned international organizations including the British Council and Cambridge Assessment International Education, alongside industry giants like New Oriental, all in attendance.

The signal being sent is clear: international education has not only avoided a “retreat” but has instead entered a new phase of higher‑quality development.

1. From “Going Out” to “Two-Way” — The Paradigm Has Shifted

In the past, discussions about international education often focused on “going abroad”—sending children overseas.

However, at the national level, the current priority is to enhance the quality of two-way international student mobility. This entails not only sending students abroad but also attracting them to study here; it goes beyond student exchanges to include the interconnectedness of educational resources, curriculum frameworks, and institutional models. China International Fair for Trade in Services The newly established “Cross-Border Expansion Zone” showcases Beijing’s innovative initiatives in areas such as the export of educational resources, the international rollout of smart education products, and the joint cultivation of globally minded talent.

In other words, international education is evolving from a “one-way channel” into a “two-way network.”

What does this mean for an international school like Zhuhai Yinghua? It means that what we do aligns with the direction the country is pursuing—helping students go global while also bringing international educational resources into China; enabling them to earn globally recognized qualifications, while equipping them with a global perspective to return home and contribute to national development.

2. “Going global” remains worthwhile, but the underlying logic has changed.

Meanwhile, on September 15th U.S. New Policy on F-1 Visas Effective soon, the D/S flexible status system—used for nearly 50 years—will officially be phased out, replaced by a fixed stay period of up to four years. UK visa fees are set to rise, and the duration of the Graduate Route visa will be reduced to 18 months starting in 2027. It is a fact that entry requirements for traditional study-abroad destinations have been comprehensively tightened.

However, the signals sent by the China International Fair for Trade in Services tell us something else: the demand for international education has not vanished—it is simply evolving. Parents are no longer content with merely “sending their children abroad”; they place greater emphasis on whether the pathway is reliable, the curriculum is well‑aligned, and the post‑graduation options are diverse—precisely what Yinghua has long championed through its “personalized college‑admission planning.”

What the future calls for are precisely individuals who possess both a global perspective and a deep understanding of the Chinese context. Such talent cannot be cultivated in an exclusively foreign environment; rather, it emerges gradually at the intersection of Chinese and international educational resources, through cross-cultural immersion, and along a developmental path that enables one to “see the world while also seeing oneself.”

3. Yinghua’s Answer: Responding to the Changing Times with a Curriculum Framework

Yinghua’s A-Level and DSE Curriculum It happens to cover multiple popular destinations, including the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Australia, Singapore, and more, allowing students to make flexible choices based on their individual circumstances and pursue “multi-country joint applications.” This is precisely how the CIFTIS‑endorsed principles of “two-way study abroad” and “joint cultivation of internationally minded talent” are being put into practice at the micro level.

The signals at the national level are already clear: international education is not being scaled back, but rather being elevated in quality. The rationale behind studying abroad has shifted, yet the demand remains, the direction remains, and the opportunities remain as well.

For families planning their children’s futures, rather than worrying about policy shifts, it is more important than ever to grasp the broader trends and chart a course that aligns with the nation’s direction of educational openness.

About Yinghua

Zhuhai Yinghua was founded in 2016 and currently offers two international curricula, one of which is accredited by the United Kingdom. Edexcel Examination Board Our school offers the International Gold‑Level A‑LEVEL program—officially authorized by the UK’s Oxford AQA Examination Board, the Cambridge CIE Examination Board, and the US AP Teaching Center, as well as by the UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS)—alongside the HKDSE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education) program, which was officially launched in 2020. These programs are designed to meet students’ academic aspirations for admission to institutions in Hong Kong. Our school is also among the first in Zhuhai to offer the HKDSE curriculum. The programs recruit students nationwide, with no restrictions on household registration, and also welcome eligible students from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and international students.

The course center is located at the Zhuhai Oriental Foreign Language Experimental School, situated within the Nanping Science and Technology Park. The campus covers an area of over 30,000 square meters, boasts a beautiful environment, and is fully equipped with comprehensive educational and teaching facilities, fostering a strong atmosphere of academic inquiry and research.