13
SPOTLIGHT
UMP
大學廣場
NOV 2014
T
o enhance students’ experiential learning, the Office of Student Affairs launched the Global Internship Programme (GIP)
in 1997 to provide students with more offshore internship opportunities. Throughout the years, GIP has offered more
than 4,300 students diversified internship experiences and cultural exchanges. Through engaging in various types of
internships, students not only equip themselves with real workplace experience, but also have undergone some extraordinary
journeys which have become their precious lifetime memory.
In summer 2014, a total of 620 students joined the GIP. Among them, Mak Yat Chi, Russell has spent his summer in Bangkok
which seems like an ordinary tourist city, but it turns out to be an exciting and challenging experience which greatly inspired his
future career pursuit.
Global Internship Programme
Work Out of the Box
During my internship, I was assigned two major jobs - to
teach in local schools (St Margaret Secondary School &
Kindergarten) and to work with the hotel school students
in YMCA hostel. Through my work and some daily
observations, I have got the chance to learn more about
the local life and culture in Africa. African students started
learning English since kindergarten, and most secondary
I was once worried that the military curfew of the Thai junta
would affect my internship. I did feel insecure when I first
saw lots of armed soldiers stationing at railway stations,
large shopping malls and outdoor public squares, but as time
goes by, this feeling has been largely reduced by the friendly
attitude of the local people.
During my work in HKTDC’s regional headquarter of
Southeast Asia, I wrote more than 50 business related articles
regarding the ASEAN region (such as issues related to the
ASEAN Free Trade Area and ASEAN Economic Community).
I could apply my knowledge learnt from my major, and the
work further deepened my understanding of Southeast Asia
and the opportunities for Hong Kong SMEs in the region.
Moreover, I got opportunities to learn and gain experience
outside the office. For instance, I attended some international
and regional business conferences and investment forums
such as the Greater Mekong Investment Forum and
Financing APEC
SME Ve n t u r e
Capital Forum.
It provided me
with the chance
to communicate
with many CEOs
and executives
f r o m b a n k s ,
i nve s t o r s and
SME s a r o u n d
the world.
As a Global Studies student, I believe that I have made an
absolutely right decision to take this internship in my only
summer during university life. The internship has helped me
to build up a solid foundation for my future career, and has
enabled me to identify my own strengths and career pursuit.
Mak Yat Chi, Russell
(Global Studies / Year 2)
Intern in Hong Kong Trade Development Council (Bangkok), Thailand
Wan Long Yin, Osbert
(Integrated BBA Programme / Year 4)
Intern in Tanzania YMCA, Africa
On the other hand, Wan Long Yin Osbert has travelled to the other side of the globe and worked as a local teacher and a hostel
staff in Tanzania, Africa. During his internship, there was the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa which caused some worries.
Luckily, it turned out to be a safe trip and Osbert has also managed to reach the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro which is the highest
trekking mountain in the world. It was certainly one of the most exciting moments in his life.
schools use English as a medium of instruction, which
was similar to the education system in Hong Kong. Most
Tanzanian could speak both Swahili and English. Apart from
languages, most schools offered a wide range of subjects
for their students to learn according to their interests,
such as Mathematics, Science, Nutrition, Hospitality and
Hotel Management, etc. Conservation of environment was
also a big concern of the schools. In the high school that
I served, half of the campus area was designed as farm
and conservation area. Students have to participate in the
