IntroductionBy the end of the 19th century, Chinese officials were beginning to realize that their country's educational infrastructure was becoming increasingly anachronistic . Traditional education largely ignored technology – even considered it low class – and students focused instead on cultivating a sense of moral righteousness. Yet the Confucian-centered examination system began to prove ineffective in a world where modern militaries predominated in international relations. China learned this painful lesson through a succession of losing wars, eventually entering a long period of introspection, including first looking outward. Foreign educational systems were of particular interest to this nation in transition. Foreign universities, notably in Japan and the United States, have attracted students in politics and economics, engineering and technology. But perhaps more importantly, many of these students later returned to China and were involved in the revolutionary political and cultural developments of the time as well as the heated debates surrounding this change. The “brain drain” therefore works in both directions. For the late Qing and early Republican governments, interaction with foreign ideas not only contributed to China's rebirth, but also helped the nation transform from a multinational empire to a modern nation-state. Ironically, however, during their exposure to foreign ideas, these students of Western culture ultimately helped overthrow the very regime they originally sought to strengthen. After all, new ideas and revolutionary change often go hand in hand. ...be, Charles. A History of East Asia: From the Origins of Civilization to the 21st Century. New York: Cambridge UP, 2011. 295-312. Print.Huntington, Samuel. “The clash of civilizations?” Foreign Affairs (1993). The Council on Foreign Relations. Print.Li, Haizheng. “Higher education in China: complement or competition with American universities? » American universities in a global market. Ed. Charles T. Clotfelter. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2010. 269-304. Print.Orléans, Leo A. Chinese Students in America: Policies, Issues and Figures. Washington, DC: National Academy, 1988. Print. Qian, Ning and TK Chu Chinese Students Meet America Seattle: University of Washington, 2002. Print. Rhoads, Edward M. Stepping Forward into. the world: the Chinese educational mission in the United States, 1872-81 Hong Kong: Hong Kong UP, 2011. Print..