Wuhan University, one of China's top universities located in central China's Hubei Province, recently expelled 92 international students for reasons including failing grades, violation of school discipline or missing tuition payments. The news brought a spotlight on foreign students in China who have been mostly out of the public's focus.

There are currently 3,300 international students from 120 countries and regions studying at Wuhan University, reported Changjiang Daily. The 92 students involved in the disciplinary action were all given warnings a year ago, but did not display any forms of correction.

Wuhan University has been closely examining its international students. In 2017, it expelled 184 foreign students. That number dropped to 109 in 2018 and this year, a total of 181 international students have lost their student status at the school.

It is not uncommon for Chinese universities to clear out poorly qualifying domestic students and in recent years these schools have been keeping a closer eye on international students.

In one well known case, Hubei University expelled a Ukrainian student calling herself Natalia Qiao Liya, who appeared on the popular Chinese television show "If You Are the One" in 2014 while she failed to turn in her PhD thesis on Chinese Contemporary Literature.

Other schools are taking similar action as well. Last October, Renmin University of China dismissed 16 undergraduate students, four being international students. Another top school, Fudan University, expelled 12 graduate students including ten who came from other countries.

According to China's Ministry of Education, the country has become Asia's largest - and the second most popular destination in the world - for international students. In 2018, the number of international students in China was 492,000, 3,013 more than the previous year.

As Chinese universities gain recognition around the world, the Ministry of Education is encouraging schools to admit more international students, especially those from developing countries, in order to amplify the influence of China's higher education in the world and take on the responsibility as one of the world's largest economic entities.

Yet as more students come to China to study, the trend has exposed problems due to some schools' lack of experience and resources.

In September 2018, China introduced its first policy for international students in an effort to protect the quality of education they received and make sure that universities treat students equally regardless of their nationality.

Moving the focus from quantity to quality, Chinese universities are no longer chasing a higher number of international students, but instead focused on creating a fair environment for all students. This will strengthen the credibility of China's higher education globally, while providing students far from home with a better experience.