Hainan, China’s southern island province, has attracted an increasing number of foreign talents through a series of measures, as the province has been accelerating the development of its free trade port and expanding its opening to the rest of the world.
Michael Dahl, an English teacher from Poland currently working at the Hainan Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone in the Lingshui Li Autonomous County in Hainan, is among the many foreign talents in the region.
When he learnt that the Alberta International School of Recreation, Sport and Tourism of Beijing Sport University, a Sino-foreign cooperative educational institution jointly established by Beijing Sport University and the University of Alberta in Canada, started accepting students in 2023, he immediately applied for the position of English teacher.
The school he is working for is among the six colleges in the Hainan Li’an International Education Innovation Pilot Zone, a project jointly established by the Ministry of Education and Hainan Province to promote education opening up and the integration of education and industries.
“The moment I heard about this project, I was really enthusiastic. I think that the joint venture, an educational venture between Sino and foreign institutions, is a great contribution towards the development of education both in China and internationally,” Michael said.
While using his expertise to advance self-development, Michael has gradually adjusted to life in Hainan, fully sensing the openness and inclusiveness of this province.
“Whether you go to the train station, whether you visit some educational facilities, offices or hospitals like I did yesterday, you can see that there are some signs in Chinese of course, but also in English. Moreover, it’s not only about the efforts of government but also it’s about people’s attitude. Many people I encountered here in Hainan, taxi drivers or some officers working at train stations or even security guards, they are doing their best to explain. If they are not able to explain properly in English, they use some dictionary,” he said.
He has also passed on his affection for Li Brocade, a traditional textile of the Li ethnic group in Hainan, and Chinese culture to his family.
In an effort to support reform and opening up in the southernmost island province, China expanded visa-free entry to Hainan for tourists from 59 countries in 2018, making the province a haven for foreigners.
Since the policy was implemented, the island has seen a growing influx of foreigners due to the simplified entry process.
“Hainan has many policies that aim at making the life of foreigners so much easier. So I think that this is really extraordinary development that the other places can take an advantage from and take as an example how Hainan is becoming international,” said Michael.