Living in another country can be an enriching experience, but new research suggests it can also help expand minds. This research, published by the American Psychological Association (APA), is the first of its kind to look at the link between living abroad and creativity. The APA conducted five studies and found that the longer students had spent living abroad, the more likely they were to come up with creative solutions.

"Cultural experiences from living abroad have wide-reaching benefits on students' creativity, including the facilitation of complex cognitive processes that promote creative thinking," wrote researchers in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology.

Li Kenan, a reporter with China Radio International, and Jonathan Gandari, a medical education coordinator at the College of Health Sciences at the University of Zimbabwe, give their own take on studying abroad and how it fosters creativity.

Studying Abroad Helps Cultivate Critical Thinking

by Li Kenan

Thinking critically means to discover possibilities outside of those things we take for granted in our lives. Most people live in very confined locations in their whole lives; the particular culture, religion, ideology and classism of our homes construct our stereotyped understandings of the world and block the way of alternative views and innovative thought. The skill of critical thinking is to break these restrictive walls by reasoning. I believe studying abroad is very helpful in developing critical thinking because it provides plenty of opportunities for students to expose themselves to different cultures, religions, ideologies and people from different social classes.

Even though China has 56 ethnic groups, it is generally a homogenous society. People in Chinese mainland usually share a similar cultural background and mindset. Compared to the homogenous Han Chinese society, America is a melting pot. People from different races, cultural backgrounds and religions share the American lifestyle, while simultaneously maintaining their ethnic traditions and cultural characteristics. The United States is rich and powerful largely because it has dominated creative industries; it has Microsoft, Apple, Hollywood, the world-leading universities and hundreds of Nobel Prize winners. The foundation of creative industries is a tolerant and inclusive society, which encourages critical thinking and respects uniqueness.

I spent four years as an undergraduate in Hong Kong and one and a half years' studying for my master's degree in Sydney. Hong Kong is an international metropolis and has a very different culture from the Chinese mainland. As a mainland student, I can never forget the cultural clashes we had when we talked with local students, especially the fierce debates in the spring before the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

I will never forget the surprised eyes of the Azerbaijan girl in Sydney when I told her that many Chinese people didn't hold religious beliefs. Nor will I forget how astonished I was when I heard from asylum seekers from South Asian and African countries that their families were slain by their landlords, hunted by African tyrants, ousted by insurgent guerillas or discriminated by the dominant ethnic groups when I was interning at a Hong Kong asylum center.

Exposure to different cultures and viewpoints does not guarantee that people will engage in critical thinking. Debates may easily slip into quarrels and even reviles when both sides lose reason and tolerance. Some students may become more close-minded, or even become extremists, after they study abroad. It is only when we tolerate others and accept cultural differences that we can really open our minds and develop insight during our overseas study experience.

A Life-Changing Experience

by Jonathan Gandari

China was the most attractive destination for me to undertake my postgraduate studies for a number of reasons. Before I left Africa, I searched the web for articles about China's advances in modern education. What I found was that China was in the midst of an educational revolution; I learned that the government was spending more resources than ever before to make Chinese universities internationally competitive. By 2008, I was offered a scholarship by the Chinese Government.

At about the age of 30, I was accepted to a postgraduate program in Global Business and Journalism at Tsinghua University in Beijing. This degree is one of the areas in which Tsinghua University excels, not only compared to other domestic schools but internationally as well.

My class was a true "United Nations" because it had many students from different continents. Interacting and engaging with classmates and teachers from all over the world on different topics helped me acquire and develop skills and experiences a classroom setting would never provide. Through interactions with other students I got the chance to discover new strengths and abilities, conquer new challenges, and solve new problems.

Living in China in 2008 allowed me to witness how China handled the global financial crisis.  I learned lessons on how China created jobs for its people during such difficult times. I also saw how small businesses were created and sustained alongside big businesses.

When I reflect on my time studying in China, I am convinced it was more than just an optimal way to learn cultural differences in language, food, appearances, and personal habits. I now understand the very deep perceptions, beliefs and values of the Chinese people. I agree with the important philosophy of "harmonious society", "harmonious Asia" and "harmonious world" put forth by the Chinese President Hu Jintao. I learned that traditionally Taoism and Confucianism provided ethical guides to the proper behavior of individuals and officials in China.

My experience in China challenged me to reconsider my own beliefs and values about entrepreneurship and hard work. The debate for me is no longer about capitalism or communism because as late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping said, "It doesn't matter whether a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice." I see more opportunities now and have started a company with my friend called HBI Media Services which offers consultations in a number of areas.

Living in China has most certainly been a life-changing experience for me and one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.