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PolyU Belt and Road Funding Scheme Helps Students Expand Their Knowledge of Civil Engineering and Sustainable Development in Thailand

Twenty students from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) embarked on a study trip to Thailand from 7 to 11 January 2024. This educational excursion was supported by the PolyU Belt and Road Funding Scheme, which is administered by the Global Engagement Office (GEO). Through the immersive experience, the students acquired a deep understanding of the latest advances in civil engineering and sustainable development, enabling them to make informed comparisons between the industries in Bangkok and Hong Kong. During the trip, the students visited King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) and various local industry sites and engaged in cultural exploration alongside the KMUTT staff and students.   Below are some comments from the participants. “My study tour in Bangkok was eye-opening. One of the highlights was a visit to the Grand Palace, where I was in awe of the intricate architecture and beautiful design. In addition, I was able to gain a deeper understanding of Thai culture through interacting with students from KMUTT. By engaging in meaningful discussions with professionals, I also expanded my knowledge of civil engineering. Overall, the study tour in Bangkok was a valuable and unforgettable experience!” -- Crement Leung   “My trip to Thailand provided me with valuable experiences that far surpassed what I could have learned in a classroom setting. Being able to explore the country first-hand allowed me to appreciate the buildings and temples that are deeply rooted in its cultural heritage. Moreover, the rapid development of Thailand's transport systems and highways was remarkable. The bustling streets and markets depicted a colourful society...What truly made this journey special were the friendships I made along the way. This experience has left an indelible mark on me.” -- John Enriquez   “One of the most memorable stories was interacting with local students at KMUTT, where each student was working on an individual creative project. I was astonished by their hands-on capabilities in tackling problems and discovering innovative solutions. I was inspired by their willpower and resourcefulness.” -- Chung Cheuk Lun 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. More details about the Scheme can be found here.

PolyU Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences Sign MoU to Establish First Collaboration with a Mongolian Tertiary Institution

The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (RS) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy of the School of Nursing of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (MNUMS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 15 January 2024, to strengthen the collaboration of both parties and signify an important step forward in contributing to the Nation’s Belt and Road Initiative.   Prof. Kwok-yin WONG, Vice President (Education) of PolyU said in his welcome speech, “We are pleased to announce that the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences is the first tertiary institution in Mongolia to collaborate with PolyU. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences for their efforts in forging connections between the University and Mongolia.”   In May 2023, twelve RS students took part in a study trip to MNUMS to learn about occupational therapy, with the support of the PolyU Belt and Road Funding Scheme administered by PolyU’s Global Engagement Office (GEO). PolyU is confident in expanding and enhancing its cooperation with MNUMS in the future and looks forward to forging closer bonds with other universities in the Belt and Road.   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. More details about the Scheme can be found here.

Global Engagement Office Yearbook 2023

As the year draws to an end, the Global Engagement Office (GEO) announces the release of the GEO Yearbook 2023. Themed “Global Aspirations Flourish at PolyU”, the Yearbook provides an overview of GEO’s major accomplishments in 2023 in enhancing PolyU’s global engagement and presence in various fields. GEO also expresses gratitude to the individuals, organisations, and partners who have supported GEO's work in the past years. In the pursuit of excellence, GEO will continue working with all related parties to make PolyU a world-leading university with a global impact. GEO Yearbook 2023: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/geo/docdrive/PolyU_GEO_Yearbook_2023.pdf  

PolyU, CityU, CUHK and HKUST co-organise Hong Kong Partners Week to promote study in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), City University of Hong Kong (CityU), The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) recently welcomed representatives from 38 university partners to promote study in Hong Kong and strengthen bonds with overseas universities. The senior management and faculty members of the four universities greeted their global university partners from Australia, Austria, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, the UK, and the USA earlier this month, introducing them Hong Kong’s attractiveness as a destination for international exchange students, the city’s strengths and opportunities and the campuses’ world-class research and student facilities. This programme “Hong Kong Partners Week”, held from 5th to 8th December, also invited leading speakers from the industry to share Hong Kong’s latest development. The programme began with a talk by Mr Daniel CHAN, Head of Greater Bay Area (GBA) of HSBC, who spoke about Hong Kong’s development and positioning as part of the GBA’s and the city’s opportunities for international students. Mr Bernard CHAN, Chairman of M+ Museum, then shared Hong Kong’s development and opportunities in art and culture, while Dr Eden WOON, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, gave insight into the city’s business landscape and opportunities. In addition to university facilities, such as PolyU’s Pao Yue-kong Library, CUHK’s Art Museum and the School of Chinese Medicine; CityU’s Milk Product Counter and Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre; HKUST’s Aerodynamics and Acoustics Facility and the Cheng Kar-Shun Robotics Institute; as well as various student residences, the overseas delegates also visited Hong Kong Science Park which is managed by Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Albert WONG, and his team shared Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) development and related opportunities for international students. They also visited Central, Tai Kwun, the Palace Museum and the West Kowloon District to learn about Hong Kong’s history and cultural heritage conservation, as well as art and culture development. The delegates found the programme fruitful and inspiring. A university partner from The Netherlands said, “It was great to return to Hong Kong for the first time since the pandemic. I am deeply appreciative of the invitation to attend the Hong Kong Partners Week. The comprehensive reintroduction to four of the top universities was exceptionally well-coordinated.” Another university representative from the UK said, “I feel I am well informed and more ready to promote Hong Kong to our students than before, and I really hope this will generate good mobility both ways!” Universities in Hong Kong have strong and extensive student exchange programmes which provide overseas learning opportunities for Hong Kong students. It also brings in international exchange students to study in Hong Kong, which significantly contributes to campus internationalisation. Through fostering close ties with overseas university partners, universities in Hong Kong continue to promote higher education in the city, reinforcing the exchange of students, and helping Hong Kong to develop into an international higher education hub. The list of participating university partners are: Australia: RMIT University The University of Melbourne The University of Sydney University of South Australia Austria: Vienna University of Economics and Business Canada: Queen’s University The University of British Columbia Ireland: Trinity College Dublin University College Dublin Italy: University of Bologna Spain: ESADE Business School Sweden: Lund University The Netherlands: Maastricht University Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Wageningen University and Research UK: Newcastle University The University of Liverpool The University of Manchester The University of Warwick University College London University of Bath University of Bristol University of East Anglia University of Exeter University of Leeds University of Southampton University of St Andrews USA: Clarkson University San Diego State University The Pennsylvania State University The University of Utah University of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles University of California, Merced University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Notre Dame University of Southern California University of Wisconsin-Madison   The participants visit CityU. The participants visit CUHK. HKUST Vice-President for Institutional Advancement Prof. WANG Yang (first row, eighth right) welcomes the participants to visit HKUST. Mr Daniel Chan, Head of Greater Bay Area (GBA) of HSBC Mr Bernard Chan, Chairman of M+ Museum Dr Eden Woon, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (right) Mr Albert Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HKSTP The participants visit the Hong Kong Palace Museum.   ***END***

PolyU hosts UASR Tourism Sub-Alliance Belt and Road Session 2023

On 7 December 2023, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) hosted the University Alliance of the Silk Road (UASR) Tourism Sub-Alliance Belt and Road Session 2023 at SHTM in collaboration with the Global Engagement Office (GEO). The aim of this series of conference sessions is to establish a platform for academic exchange on the tourism and hospitality industry among UASR Tourism Sub-Alliance members and representatives of Belt and Road higher education institutions. With the support of the PolyU Network Initiative Scheme, administered by GEO, this Belt and Road Session was held in conjunction with IMPACT2023 Conference organised by SHTM, its Hospitality and Tourism Research Centre, and STR.   At the opening ceremony, Professor Kaye Chon, Dean of SHTM, welcomed the Session’s participants and invited them to share their insights into advancing tourism development in the Belt and Road region. Ten speakers from nine universities presented their disciplinary research findings and practices, sparking fruitful discussion of strategies to promote sustainability, revitalisation, and resilience in the tourism industry post-pandemic. The participating institutions included Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU), Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU), Mae Fah Luang University (MFU), Chengdu University (CDU), the University of Tabuk (UT), Duy Tan University (DTU), STP Bandung, Palembang Tourism Polytechnic, and the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage.   PolyU has established strong partnerships with tertiary and research institutions worldwide, actively contributing to education, research, and knowledge transfer on a global scale. Apart from being the Co-founder and Vice-President of the UASR, PolyU was appointed as UASR’s Rotating President in 2023. The UASR Tourism Sub-Alliance was initiated by SHTM in 2019 and currently comprises PolyU, XJTU, KazNU, MFU, and CDU.

Chengdu University Students Participate in PolyU Study Programme through the Belt and Road Funding Scheme

Ten students from the School of Tourism and Culture Industry at Chengdu University embarked on an enriching educational visit to the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) from 6 to 19 August 2023 to deepen their understanding of tourism and marketing. The visit was made possible with the support of the PolyU Belt and Road Funding Scheme, administered by the Global Engagement Office (GEO). During the visit, the students attended lectures, collaborated on research projects and visited local hotels to gain valuable insight into tourism management. Working alongside SHTM students from PolyU, they collectively developed marketing recommendations to promote Hong Kong as an attractive destination for the Chengdu community.   Below is some of the feedback from the participants.   “I have many beautiful and profound memories of Hong Kong from these 14 days. The workshop at the SHTM impressed me the most, as I had never participated in such a workshop in Chengdu. In the SHTM’s Vinoteca Lab and Bistro1979, I mixed and tasted alcohol and beverages, set the dining table, learned to distinguish between different knives and forks, and practised serving. I was able to combine theoretical and practical learning”. -- Zou Xueying   “I’m writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible experience and opportunities. The academic atmosphere at PolyU was truly exceptional. The professors were not only knowledgeable but also passionate about their subjects, creating an inspiring learning environment. I could feel that they really wanted to teach us something and make us learn something from their lessons. The courses offered me a deeper understanding of hospitality.” -- Chen Xingyu   “The SHTM has always been my dream school, and I am fortunate to have been involved in this project and have close connections with the SHTM and PolyU. We all completed our tasks in an atmosphere of harmonious and pleasant teamwork, ultimately bringing our entire project to fruition. Through this process, I feel that my leadership skills improved”.    -- He Bingxue   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. More details about the Scheme can be found here. 

Chulalongkorn University Student Interns at PolyU through the Belt and Road Funding Scheme

A student from Chulalongkorn University of Thailand carried out a two-month research internship at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) from 3 July to 25 August 2023. The visit was made possible by the support of the PolyU Belt and Road Funding Scheme, administered by the Global Engagement Office (GEO). Focusing on the design and development of fuel cells for green power generation, Ms Benyapa Yawanopas said that the internship refined her technical expertise and research skills in the field of alternative energy solutions. Below is Benyapa’s feedback on her overall experience at PolyU.   “It was an incredibly enriching experience that advanced my professional growth, expanded my cross-cultural learning, and promoted my personal development. Effectively, this internship introduced me to a new area of study, sustainable energy research. Cross-cultural learning was an integral component of my experience. Collaborating with a diverse team of international colleagues allowed me to appreciate the global nature of the energy industry. The exchange of ideas and perspectives enhanced my adaptability, communication skills, and ability to work effectively in today’s interconnected world”.   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. More details about the Scheme can be found here. 

PolyU Joined the Alliance of International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) joined the Alliance of International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO) as a member at the Alliance’s 3rd General Assembly of 4–5 November 2023.   ANSO was established in 2018 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences with the support of 36 other national academies, research institutions, universities and international organisations from around the world. It is a comprehensive international science and technology organisation, established under the Belt and Road Initiative, that supports the achievement of sustainable social, economic and environmental development. ANSO currently consists of 78 member institutions from 55 countries. By joining ANSO, PolyU will strengthen its collaborations with a global network of national academies of sciences, universities, research institutes and international organisations seeking to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals through science, technology, innovation and capacity building.  

PolyU Students Attend International Summer School in Nanjing Through Belt and Road Funding Scheme

Nineteen students from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) joined the International Summer School on AI organised by Southeast University from 14 to 18 May 2023 in Nanjing. The visit was made possible with the support of the PolyU Belt and Road Funding Scheme administered by the Global Engagement Office (GEO). Lectures gave the students insights into topics such as machine learning, knowledge graphs, and human-computer interaction. They also visited facilities including Hauwei Nanjing Research Center, NR Electric, and Purple Mountain Laboratories, and toured famous sites like the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the Presidential Palace in Nanjing. Cultural exchanges involving students at Southeast University also took place. Several students shared their experiences after the visit.   “This tour gave me a fruitful experience in Nanjing. I had the chance to study in a different university, meet new friends, and learn the culture of Nanjing. Moreover, this tour broadened my views about China’s technological development.”    “We learned a lot and experienced the history and culture of Nanjing. I think it was a very valuable experience for us and I am looking forward to more such opportunities in the future to learn more about Mainland China.”   “Not only did I visit the scenic attractions, but I also had a chance to broaden my perspectives by communicating with locals. Visiting famous companies in China gave me a deeper understanding of my future career path and how learning about technology influences society.”  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. More details about the Scheme can be found here.

PolyU Students Explore Business Management in Mainland China Through Belt and Road Funding Scheme

Thirteen students from the Department of Management and Marketing at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) took part in a field trip to Dongguan in Mainland China that ran from 5 to 9 June 2023 to bolster their understanding of practical business management. The participants learned about business models and management strategies from senior executives at seven local companies. They also teamed up with final year students from Guangdong University of Science and Technology to carry out market research to formulate their own start-up business proposals. At the end of the trip, the students presented their business proposals to the senior executives of the organisations visited. Several students shared their views of the trip.     “Through this field trip, I have gained valuable inspiration. It not only prompted me to consider sustainable business practices from a business student’s perspective, but also encouraged me to adopt sustainable behaviour in my daily life as a consumer. As a business practitioner, it is essential to focus not only on profit but also on minimising the negative effect on the environment, as sustainable business development can lead to long-term benefits. During the five-day trip, I was impressed by the support from both society and the government for innovation and entrepreneurship in the Greater Bay Area. The experience further strengthened my determination to establish myself as an entrepreneur in the Greater Bay Area.” -- Liang Yuchen Esther   ‘“The most significant experience I had was the insight I gained from exchanges with mainland students. Students and teachers from different departments in the mainland have jointly established an entrepreneurial plan for rural China and successfully progressed it for five years… This made me understand that actions can make people grow, and they have more experience and inspiration, instead of being limited to learning from books.”    -- Yeung Chun Ho    “During the five-day study week, the most impressive experience for me was the visit to Guangdong Dongguan Science and Technology Co., Ltd. In the e-CNY section, there were different electronic payment instruments ranging from the oldest to the most advanced. I was most pleasantly surprised to come across a payment method that I had never seen before… I am optimistic about the business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area. The large market in the Greater Bay Area, coupled with attractive career development opportunities and a vibrant working environment, all these advantages have encouraged me to develop my ambitions in the Greater Bay Area.” -- Cheung Hoi Ying 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. More details about the Scheme can be found here.