International Students Warned of Disciplinary Action if They Return to Beijing

As Beijing's students and teachers remain in limbo with no word yet on when the spring semester will commence, it is becoming increasingly apparent that universities are making good on their threat of disciplining students should they return before an official start date has been announced.

While teachers and students at Beijing's international schools have also been advised not to return from their domestic or international hideouts, universities have gone one step further, making a return to the capital an offense punishable by disciplinary action, including withdrawal of scholarships and even dismissal.

The ramping up of measures is likely in response to the growing number of COVID-19 "imported cases" to China from people returning from oversees, with 13 of the last 19 Beijing infections flying in from abroad. Those returning from South Korea, Italy, Iran, and Japan are now required to conduct mandatory 14-day quarantine, as reported by Global Times.

Students at Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) and Tsinghua University (whose iconic old gate is pictured at top) have both received warnings in the past week that anyone who returns to Beijing will face disciplinary measures, though neither specified what exactly they may be.

The warnings come in light of four students who returned to Nanjing University Aeronautics and Astronautics in early March without informing the school. The students, from Pakistan, Brazil, Ecuador, and Russia, were subsequently named in an official release that made the rounds on WeChat, with each of them incurring punishments that ranged from serious warnings, cancelation of stipends, and refusal of scholarship and master's degree applications.

Tsinghua University's statement, released Mar 7 as a comprehensive Q&A via their official WeChat account, outlines how "Due to the fact that the COVID-19 epidemic still in an uncertain stage, it is impossible for the university to provide an estimated university open date at this point. The delaying of the university open date and the eventual decision of the new semester start date will be made in accordance with requirements by the Chinese Ministry of Education and Beijing Municipal Government."

The notice goes on to say that "Tsinghua University international students found to have returned to Beijing without prior approval will face serious disciplinary action by the University which may affect their studies," adding students must inform the university of their whereabouts should they move to a different city or country. Additionally, those currently on campus must apply in advance to exit and enter the campus and any students who exit or enter the campus without prior approval will be subject to "serious disciplinary action."

For other students, the opposite also holds true, with warnings from their schools that if they are currently in Beijing they are not allowed to leave the country. Yasmin Dangor, a student at the Beijing Institute of Fashion and Technology, says, "Initially, we were to inform our school of travel plans but as of two weeks ago we were told if we are in Beijing we aren’t allowed to leave the country, and if we are out of the country, we could not return until we have been told we can."

Dangor goes on to say that she's generally satisfied with the way that her school has handled the situation, asking students to report their daily health readings and location via a designated mini-app before 10am, "a requirement passed by the government." She notes that of the half of the 50 or so students in her class remain in Beijing: "A handful left when the virus started and have not returned, while a few others left to go home as it was winter vacation and they’ve just extended their time at home. Our semester was meant to start today and we’ve started it through online classes."

Much like the directive from Beijing's international schools for students and teachers to stay away, no official government statement has been made public as to legal ramifications facing returning students. However, these heavy-handed measures indicate that schools are being encouraged from above to do everything they can to dissuade students from returning before opening dates are confirmed.

If you're unsure whether these rules are applicable to you, we suggest that you contact your school prior to heading back to the capital. It's one thing to be quarantined upon your return, it's another to have to quarantine without the prospect of continuing to your studies once you've done your 14 days.

READ: Schools Advise Beijing Teachers, Students Abroad to Stay Away For Now

Images: SCMP, WeChat