‘Exchanging’ dialogues: Live your passion for Hong Kong

Why would a student go on an exchange? Broadening horizons, learning new cultures, boosting language skills, just to name a few reasons. Have you ever thought that the overseas exchange experience can change your views towards life and Hong Kong as well? Three CUHK students shared what they got out of their exchange at the information session during the Student Exchange Week in October.

Mr. Hugo Chow, a graduate who went to Leibniz Universitat Hannover, Germany in 2013, shared how his exchange experience had inspired his career plan. ‘I was fascinated by the way that German youths plan their future. They often think of what they can contribute to their home country and society.’ After the exchange, Hugo decided to pursue a master’s degree in human rights in London instead of entering the job market straight after graduation as he had originally planned. Realising his real passion for life, he worked for Amnesty International in 2015–16.

Hugo’s view was echoed by two other students, Mr. Heywood Sit and Ms. Josephine Yip who went on exchange to Peking University, China and the University of Dundee, UK respectively in 2015–16. After the exchange, both of them wanted to re-discover Hong Kong, the place where they grew up in. Heywood was surprised about the eagerness of the people in Beijing to learn about Hong Kong’s culture, while Josephine was impressed by the patriotism of her friends in the UK. Since their return, they have started their journey of exploring the uniqueness and attractiveness of Hong Kong and they are proud of their identity of being a Hongkonger.

The University offers over 230 student exchange programmes at over 30 destinations and scholarship and financial assistance schemes are available to support the exchange.