Swedish scholars add strength to internationalisation

As part of the University’s effort to internationalise the campus, CUHK has been collaborating with the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT) in the Teaching Sabbatical Programme to engage Swedish scholars to teach and conduct research on campus. In the first term of 2017-18, CUHK receives two visiting fellows, Prof. Per Nilsen from Linköping University and Prof. Hoai Anh Tran from Malmö University.

Hosted by the Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Prof. Per Nilsen is impressed by many aspects of research and teaching at CUHK. He conducted a seminar series on implementation science, which is a relatively young research field dealing with the adoption and use of research in various practice settings. He also participated in conferences organised by CUHK and co-supervised research students’ research projects. ‘My time in Hong Kong has been a truly wonderful experience. I’ve gained a lot of insight through interaction with faculty members, researchers and students. I will surely bring these inspirations home for my future development,’ said Prof. Nilsen.

Another visiting fellow, Prof. Hoai Anh Tran, is hosted by the Urban Studies Programme, which is jointly offered by the Department of Geography and Resource Management and School of Architecture. Prof. Tran has been co-teaching two courses on urban planning and urban sustainability, which has brought her new perspectives. ‘Although the courses are similar to those I used to teach in Sweden, my thinking and teaching approaches have been refreshed by adapting the curriculum to the context of Hong Kong. The semester has been truly enriching.’ She also admires the enthusiasm of teachers and the diligence of students at CUHK.

Since 2012, seven STINT fellows from a wide spectrum of disciplines have been hosted by CUHK. These visiting professors have brought new ideas and perspectives to the University, allowing students to benefit from Swedish teaching without travelling abroad.