Welcome... Take A Seat

Hi everyone,

Thank you for stopping by the site and taking the time to learn more about The Tea Table Group. Since this is our first blog post, I thought it would be a good time to introduce myself and explain, in my own words, what we are trying to accomplish.

In simple terms, The Tea Table Group exists to help build stronger connections between international students and U.S. universities. We help institutions better understand international student experiences, develop stronger strategies, and create relationships that go beyond simply recruiting students.

I have spent nearly fifteen years living and working in China, and throughout that time I have had the opportunity to work with many Chinese students, educators, and institutions. These experiences have taught me a great deal about both the opportunities and challenges involved when students and universities from different educational systems come together.

I have seen the incredible opportunities international education creates, but I have also seen where misunderstandings can happen. Students may arrive with expectations that differ from what universities anticipate, and universities may struggle to fully understand the experiences and needs of the students they hope to support.

That is why I founded The Tea Table Group: to help bring both sides together, encourage better understanding, and build stronger relationships.

My wife jokingly refers to me as the 媒婆 (méi pó), or “matchmaker,” between Chinese students and universities. While I appreciate the title, I think the role is a little more complicated than that! A good match is only the beginning. Strong relationships require communication, trust, and continued support.

That idea is at the heart of The Tea Table Group.

Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing resources, research, and insights about international education, including ways universities can better evaluate their readiness to recruit Chinese students, how the international education landscape is changing, and strategies for supporting student success.

We are also excited to begin work on The 2027 Tea Table Paper, our first annual white paper exploring important issues and trends in international education.

Thank you for joining us at the beginning of this journey. I hope you enjoy exploring the site, and I look forward to sharing more ideas, resources, and conversations with you. If you would like to follow along as we share new research, resources, and insights about international education, we invite you to join the Tea Table and stay connected with our work.

Welcome to the table.

— Ryan