News

PolyU summer programmes welcome local and international students to experience campus life

This summer, the Global Engagement Office (GEO) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) hosted the Summer Institute 2023 and International Summer School 2023 for high school and undergraduate students.   PolyU launched its inaugural Summer Institute for students from Hong Kong secondary and international schools, with over 210 senior students joining the residential camp. They participated in ice-breaking and campus hunt games, and joined programme talks and hands-on activities arranged by the University’s six faculties and three schools. The high school students also took the opportunity to interact with current PolyU undergraduate students and interest club members so as to learn more about their future studies at PolyU. During the welcome dinner, Prof. Kwok-yin WONG, Vice President (Education), introduced the key features of the University’s undergraduate curriculum. Representatives from faculties and schools mingled with the participants and answered their questions about the University’s undergraduate programmes. Forty-five of the participants also took a credit-bearing course, either “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” or “Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics”, thereby gaining an elementary knowledge of entrepreneurship and/or AI, and learning to apply the theories to develop an innovative mindset in the digital era. The Summer Institute not only challenges students’ inquisitive minds, but also immerses them in the University’s stimulating learning environment so that they can get first-hand experience of making informed choices for their future studies.   In addition, organised by GEO, around 450 undergraduate students from PolyU, its partner institutions and other universities joined the PolyU International Summer School 2023 from mid-July to mid-August. Students studied one or two of our credit-bearing courses from the University’s globally renowned disciplines, including hotel and tourism management, optometry and rehabilitation sciences. Various local excursions were also organised to immerse participants in aspects of Hong Kong culture; these included a night tram tour, Ngong Ping 360 cable car ride, and visits to Tai O Village, Tsz Shan Monastery and the Wishing Tree in Lam Tsuen. There were also fun-filled workshops, with topics that included making Hong Kong-style milk tea, egg tarts, siu mai and minibus signs. The International Summer School 2023 allowed students to experience excellent teaching, while also learning about the vibrancy and diversity of Hong Kong, as well as to engage in intercultural exchange with PolyU students and other participating students from around the world.   To find out more about the PolyU International Summer School 2023, please click here, and visit their website for details about the PolyU Summer Institute.

PolyU Students Visited Vietnam’s Intimate Apparel Garment Factories through the Belt and Road Funding Scheme

A group of 35 students from the School of Fashion and Textiles at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) gained extensive knowledge by visiting intimate apparel garment factories in Vietnam from 14 to 18 May 2023. This visit was made possible through the support of the PolyU Belt and Road Funding Scheme administered by the Global Engagement Office (GEO). During the visit, the students had the opportunity to join production line tours and exchange with experts from well established companies such as Crystal Martin, Texco Limited, and Regina Miracle. Below are some sharing from the participating students after the visit:    “This trip has bnefited me a lot. It gives me the opportunity to see the operation of the factory and the brand-new manufacturing technology. In addition, because of the epidemic, we have been unable to go out for the past few years, and I am very happy to have this opportunity to study and travel with my classmates.” -- Cheung Man Ying   “It was a pleasure to visit the dressing gown factory. I was able to observe how the manufacturing process was going and gained a deeper understanding than I could theoretically learn. And I want to say thank you to all the professors who made this opportunity possible.” -- Jiyeong Ko   “As a fashion student visiting Vietnam, I gained valuable insights into the global fashion industry. I have observed the material used in producing intimate apparel and the various stages of production, from dyeing to sewing, the processes required numerous responsible workers. If the ones in front make a misstep, then all the ones following will likewise make a misstep. I obtained a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in this field.”    -- Chiu Tsoi Hang Victoria   About PolyU Belt and Road Funding Scheme The PolyU Belt and Road Funding Scheme aims to support faculties, schools, departments and student-related offices in organising thematic curricular and extracurricular activities to promote bilateral student mobility and enrich PolyU students’ Belt and Road experience. The Scheme is administered by the Global Engagement Office at PolyU. 

Belt and Road Funding Scheme Supports PolyU Students on Study Tour to Logistics Hubs in Singapore

Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) organised a one-week study tour for a group of 21 students to visit Singaporean institutions and companies specialising in shipping, logistics, and port operations from 7 to 14 May 2023. With the sponsorship from the PolyU Belt and Road Funding Scheme administered by the Global Engagement Office (GEO), the programme provided students with extraordinary opportunities to gain in-depth insights into the international logistics industry. The tour included visits to Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Maritime Academy of Singapore Polytechnic, eight specialised logistics companies such as DHL and Cogent Container, as well as local cultural landmarks. Several students shared their positive experiences after the study tour.    “Our school organised the tour that gave 21 of us a unique opportunity to gain insight into the logistics and supply chain management industries. After visiting numerous companies in Singapore, we have found that there are some cultural differences between Singaporeans and ourselves. Their attitude towards working and interpersonal relationships with their co-workers is worth learning.” -- Cho Hau Nam   “During the study tour, we visited Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and met local friends studying the same field. Since it was a meeting between students, there was an opportunity for students to learn something different other than meeting with experts. We were able to share our thoughts and experiences about the industry and how our cultural and personal values align with professionalism.” -- Jung Jisoo    “This study tour can train students’ communication skills and enrich their global outlook. It allows us to manage people, plan and think strategically, and learn the operation of logistics and maritime institutions outside Hong Kong…Compared with study tours held in secondary school, the itinerary of this study tour is planned by the students. It includes communicating with target companies for site visit permission, booking hotels and flight tickets, contacting travel agents, etc. We can gain hands-on experience through trip planning.” -- Chiu Ka Chun About PolyU Belt and Road Funding Scheme The PolyU Belt and Road Funding Scheme aims to support faculties, schools, departments and student-related offices in organising thematic curricular and extracurricular activities to promote bilateral student mobility and enrich PolyU students’ Belt and Road experience. The Scheme is administered by the Global Engagement Office at PolyU. 

PolyU GEO hosts Forum of the Belt and Road Alliance Founding Institutions

The Global Engagement Office of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University hosted the Forum of the Belt and Road Alliance Founding Institutions on 7 July 2023 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Under the theme of “Jointly Building the Belt and Road”, the Forum was organised by PolyU’s Global Engagement Office, which brought together 18 scholars from the founding institutions of seven Belt and Road academic alliances to share insights on fostering talent development, knowledge transfer and research development for sustainable advancement of the Belt and Road countries. The alliances include the University Alliance of the Silk Road (UASR), Association of Sino-Russian Technical Universities (ASRTU), China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Consortium of Universities, University Consortium of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (UCMSR), Alliance of International Science Organisations in the Belt and Road Region (ANSO), ASEAN-China Network for Cooperation and Exchanges among Engineering and Technology Universities (ACNET-EngTech), and BRICS Universities League (BUL). In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs) of PolyU, said, “By leveraging our strong presence in the Mainland, and our expertise and strengths in education, research and knowledge transfer, PolyU has been playing an instrumental role in supporting the country’s Belt and Road Initiative to bring about positive changes in the region. Through this forum, we aim to exchange ideas and experiences with representatives from those academic alliances, in order to unlock opportunities for academic and research collaborations with Belt and Road universities.” Prof. Geoffrey Q.P. SHEN, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) and Chairman of PolyU’s Sub-Committee on Belt and Road Development, said, “PolyU is dedicated to advancing student exchange and academic collaboration with Belt and Road countries. We have co-founded and joined various Belt and Road alliances and are working closely with our partners on initiatives such as cultural exchange, mobility for students and faculty, professional training, and related services. We aim to further strengthen our collaboration with the Belt and Road alliances and their member institutions and contribute to the prosperous development of the Belt and Road.” The speakers included: Prof. XI Guang, Member of the University Council and Vice President at Xi’an Jiaotong University (Founding Institution and President of UASR); Prof. ZHEN Liang, Member of the University Council and Vice President of Harbin Institute of Technology (Founding Institution and President of ASRTU); Prof. FANG Ying, Vice President at Xiamen University (Founding Institution and President of UCMSR); Prof. CAO Jinghua, Executive Director of the Secretariat Office of ANSO; Associate Prof. ZHANG Jiegen, Director of the Pakistan Study Centre at Fudan University (Founding Institution and President of CPEC Consortium of Universities); Prof. SHEN Yi, Director of Centre for BRICS Studies at Fudan University (Founding Institution and President of BUL); and Prof. SU Rongxin, Deputy Dean of School of Marine Science and Technology at Tianjin University (Founding Institution and President of ACNET-EngTech). During the Forum, participants shared their experience and best practice on regional academic exchanges and research collaboration to advance the Belt and Road development. Discussions were made on the future alliance development, industry-academia-research collaboration, as well as inter-university and inter-alliance cooperation. The participating institutions have released the “Joint Consensus of the Belt and Road Alliance Founding Institutions Forum,” committing to collectively work towards the high-quality development of the Belt and Road. The full text of the Consensus is available here (Chinese version only). PolyU has built robust partnerships with tertiary and research institutions worldwide to advance its education, research and knowledge transfer impact around the globe. Actively strengthening its international networks to support the Belt and Road Initiative, PolyU is not only the Co-founder and Vice-President of UASR, but also a member of ASRTU, CPEC Consortium of Universities, UCMSR, and ACNET-EngTech.

“PolyU Taster Programme 2023” successfully completed

The “PolyU Taster Programme 2023”, with 25 individual programmes organised by different faculties, schools and departments has been successfully completed with around 1,100 Secondary Four and Secondary Five students participating. The Programme aimed to provide an opportunity for secondary school students to experience university life and learn about different disciplines such as business, construction, fashion and design, health science, hotel and tourism, language and STEAM (i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). Participants interacted with PolyU scholars and students through a wide variety of activities, including undergraduate programme talks, thematic talks, student sharing sessions, workshops, interactive games, guided campus tours, and visits to laboratories and teaching facilities. They gained insight into features of our undergraduate programmes, which will prepare them to make better informed university choices when planning for their further studies.

PolyU Joined ASEAN-China Network for Cooperation and Exchanges among Engineering and Technology Universities

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) joined the ASEAN-China Network for Cooperation and Exchanges among Engineering and Technology Universities (ACNET-EngTech) as a member at the Alliance’s General Assembly on 27 April 2023. Prof Banchong Mahaisavariya, President of Mahidol University (Rotating Chairman Institute), Prof Gong Jinlong, Vice President of Tianjin University (Chairman Institute), Prof Geoffrey Shen, PolyU Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships), and representatives from 23 other member institutes attended the General Assembly. Prof Shen delivered a speech at the meeting introducing the University and the collaboration opportunities with China-ASEAN members in academic exchange, student engagement, and research collaboration.   ACNET-EngTech aims to establish an international network for exchange and cooperation for higher education among China-ASEAN countries, by providing a platform for information sharing and academic exchange in engineering, and promoting the integration of ideas, experiences, information, and achievements among member institutes. ACNET-EngTech has expanded to 26 universities and 8 countries. By joining ACNET-EngTech, PolyU shall strengthen its international presence and promote strategic development in the Belt and Road regions.

Annual “Counsellor Fly-in Programme” concludes successfully

The Global Engagement Office of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology jointly hosted the six-day “HKUST x PolyU Counsellor Fly-in 2023”, which came to a successful conclusion on 31 March 2023. To strengthen the close connection between PolyU and the rest of the world, 39 counsellors from 38 schools in 15 countries and regions, namely Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam, as well as counsellors from local schools, were welcomed at PolyU. Professor Ben Young, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs), Professor Kwok-yin Wong, Vice President (Education) and Professor Geoffrey Q. P. Shen, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) shared information about how talented students are helped gain access to PolyU’s top-quality education.   During the three-day programme organised by PolyU, groups of counsellors toured the University’s facilities, student halls, and nine faculties and schools, accompanied by PolyU staff and student ambassadors. The focus was on demonstrating the University’s unique strengths and enabled the counsellors to experience PolyU’s dynamic learning environment. Student representatives also shared their own stories, their experience of colourful campus life and how to become responsible world citizens through PolyU’s diverse educational programmes and its global connections. The entire fly-in programme ended with a dinner for PolyU and HKUST representatives and the counsellors, with all parties exchanging educational experiences and expressing their hope of jointly nurturing tomorrow’s leaders with a global vision.

PolyU participated in the Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF) 2023

The Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum (GEEF) 2023 was hosted by Yonsei University on 2 and 3 February. The Forum, themed “Turning Point: From Crisis into Opportunity” aimed to examine progress at mid-point on the way to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and facilitate discourse on the future directions of SDGs. Professor Kwok-yin Wong, Vice President (Education) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was invited to participate in GEEF 2023 virtually as a panelist in a featured session themed “Future of Higher Education” on behalf of the University Social Responsibility Network. During the session, Professor Wong shared his views regarding the significance and practices of innovative education methods for sustainable growth. Moderated by Professor Donghoon Kim, Senior Vice President of Yonsei University, the session was devoted to SDG 4 “Quality Education” and discussion focused on the role of higher education institutions in realising a sustainable future. Other panellists included, Dr Shinki An, Director of the Yonsei Institute for Global Health, Mr Duncan Ross, Chief Data Officer of Times Higher Education, and Professor Mohd Hamdi Abdul Shukor, Vice Chancellor of the University of Malaya. About GEEF The Global Engagement & Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF), is an annual international forum, organised by the Institute for Global Engagement & Empowerment at Yonsei University, the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, and the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens. Stakeholders, including various global leaders and experts, convene to collaborate towards accomplishing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Yonsei University is one of the founding members of the University Social Responsibility Network, of which PolyU is the Chair while the Network Secretariat is hosted at the University’s Global Engagement Office.  

PolyU hosts virtual International University Social Responsibility Summit to share actionable insights and chart the role of higher education in a sustainable future

The International University Social Responsibility (USR) Summit 2022, themed “Education and Action for a Sustainable Future”, was hosted virtually by PolyU and the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) from 16 to 18 November 2022.  This biennial USRN flagship event brought together from around the world 140 speakers and over 640 online participants, including higher education leaders, academics, students and practitioners to exchange ideas, foster partnerships among universities and advance the global USR movement.  In addition to the focus on education and the global community, this years’ USR Summit further broadened its scope to attract presentations from science and technology experts in order to mobilise all-round collaborative research to make our planet more sustainable, and our communities more advanced and inclusive.  Prof. Jin-Guan Teng, President of PolyU, Prof. Ben Young, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs)  and Prof. Daniel Shek, Associate Vice President (Undergraduate Programme) kicked off the Summit, which was organised in conjunction with the 4th International Conference on Service-Learning.  President Teng addressed speakers and guests at the joint welcoming session of the International USR Summit 2022 and the 4th International Conference on Service-Learning,  commenting that the joint event was timely as the world is currently facing many challenges that require universities to promote social responsibility in order to make the world a better place. “We promote social responsibility not only in education but also in our research endeavours” said President Teng. “Be challenged and inspired by what you learn from the community and turn those findings into research ideas and projects. Bring the research back into the community where it can do the most good.” President Teng concluded his welcoming address to the educators and researchers. As the Chair of the International USR Summit 2022 Organising Committee, Prof. Ben Young believed the Summit to be an event where participants reflect on the USRN’s trajectory and an occasion to celebrate accomplishments and partnership. “The light attracts us, the vision gathers us from around the globe, the responsibility empowers us and guides us to co-create a sustainable future for the betterment of all beings on this planet” said Prof. Young.   The three-day Summit comprised various plenary and parallel sessions which delved into six sub-themes:  Assessing and Reinforcing USR Impacts; Collaborative Research to Address Global Challenges; Driving Institutional Changes for USR; Education to Cultivate Social Responsibility; Elevating Sustainable Development through Regional and Global Collaboration; and Social Innovation for Inclusive Communities. Click here for the USR Summit 2022 event playback. About the University Social Responsibility Network  The University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) was initiated by PolyU in 2015 in the belief that universities have an obligation to work together to find solutions to address the economic, social and environmental challenges facing the world today, making the world more just, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable. Serving as a global platform to connect and foster partnership among members, the USRN shares ideas and resources to develop collaborative USR projects with varied scope and scale, advancing higher education as a catalyst for social change through education, research and community service. The USRN comprises 20 member institutions with wide geographic spread.  USRN website: https://www.usrnetwork.org About the International USR Summit 2022 The International USR Summit 2022: Education and Action for a Sustainable Future, hosted virtually by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the University Social Responsibility Network, aimed to nurture and guide generations of new leaders who will drive social change, and translate innovative ideas into concrete steps towards a better, inclusive and sustainable future.  The USR Summit 2022 was organised in conjunction with the 4th International Conference on Service-Learning.  Service-Learning is moving into a whole new stage of institutional commitment and societal impact.   USR Summit 2022 website: https://usrsummit2022.org

PolyU President invited to speak at EU-HK SDGs Roundtable Discussions 2022

The Czech Republic Consul General in Hong Kong, Mrs Klára Jurčová, invited Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU to participate as a panel speaker at the EU-HK SDGs Roundtable Discussions 2022 that the Consulate General organised on 31 October 2022. The President joined the third roundtable on the topic of Sustainable Development Goals related to the environment and economics, together with two other panel speakers, Mr Per Augustsson, Consul General of Sweden, and Mr Simon Ng, CEO of the Business Environmental Council. Holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this is the first time in Hong Kong for the Czech Republic to arrange such an event for policy exchange and aimed at experts from industry, NGOs, academia and the government, as well as Consuls General of the EU countries.