Oxford dreams of teaching China's leader

After educating a long list of political leaders in many different countries, Oxford University now wants to produce its first Chinese president, says the university's vice-chancellor.

"At the moment, in Oxford, we have not educated a president or premier of China, but I hope that in the future, we will be able to point to an Oxford education as part of the development of a future president or premier or leading political figure in China," said Professor Andrew Hamilton after the launch of an Oxford scholarship programme sponsored by local tycoon Walter Kwok Ping-sheung.

From next year, two Hong Kong or mainland students will be chosen every year to have their undergraduate studies at Oxford fully funded.

Over 900 mainland, Hong Kong and Macau students - including 104 from Hong Kong - are currently studying at the British institution, making China's presence on the campus third to Britain and the United States. In the mid-1990s there were fewer than 100 students from the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau.

More than 390 Hong Kong students applied to the university this year, a 35 per cent increase from 2010, according to the university's China office.

"China is a very big focus for Oxford now," said Hamilton. "For us, it's an important country and it's one that will become ever more important as the 21st century unfolds."