Practice Exploration and Counselor Role Optimization in International Student Management in China from the Perspective of Neoliberalism

Against the intertwined context of deglobalization and neoliberalism, international student education in China embraces opportunities brought by international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, while facing challenges such as slower transnational talent mobility and rising demands for cross-cultural adaptation (Zhang et al., 2024). While neoliberalism provides a theoretical perspective for optimizing resource allocation in international student management, it is crucial to equally emphasize educational equity and humanistic care. As key actors in Schools of International Education, counselors play an irreplaceable role in daily management and service delivery. Drawing upon neoliberal theory, this paper sorts out practical directions of international student management, compares the differences between international student counselors and domestic student counselors, and proposes optimized role orientations, including “diverse coordinator” “cultural bridge”, and “rights defender” (Liang & Zhang, 2025). The study aims to offer insights for the high-quality development of international student education in China.