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ICRC-HKU International Fellowship established to host HKU student trainees in Geneva

26 Oct 2017

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) today (October 26) announced that it has set up trainee partnerships with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to engage HKU students for a year-long internship at ICRC headquarters in Geneva. ICRC, established in 1863, is an independent organisation whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance.

Professor W. John Kao, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global), HKU and Pierre Dorbes, Head of ICRC Regional Delegation in East Asia

Professor W. John Kao, HKU Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global), and Mr Pierre Dorbes, Head of ICRC Regional Delegation in East Asia

HKU is very pleased to partner with ICRC with the Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) being the main collaborator in this new scheme. FBE will work closely with ICRC to facilitate student nomination and selection, and provide necessary support to well prepare participating students for the traineeship.

This trainee partnership will connect FBE penultimate and final-year/postgraduate candidates with Directorate of International Law and Policy of the ICRC. During the traineeship period, the candidate’s scope of work will have special emphasis on Asian affairs and on Asian companies operating across the world. Supervised by the Economic Adviser, the candidate will be engaged with management of various work streams such as: a joint project with the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF); the ICRC’s engagement with Chinese business actors and engagement with organisations such as the World Economic Forum, the United Nations Global Compact, and various other stakeholders in the business and conflict field.

“The diverse HKU campus is a fertile ground to foster future leaders with global acumen. We believe that a clear moral compass and value leadership are important in all aspect of university core mission in teaching, research, and societal impact. The partnership with ICRC exemplifies our commitment in providing valuable opportunities for our students, while training them to apply their talents and to be successful in Hong Kong and anywhere,” said Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global) Professor W John Kao.

Dean of Business and Economics Professor Hongbin Cai remarked: “The Faculty of Business and Economics fully supports this partnership through which students can develop global horizon and service leadership. This ICRC traineeship programme reinforces the Faculty’s objective to nurture young talents who are not merely successful in their professions, but are also responsible and ethical leaders. I trust that our students will be benefited from this unique internship opportunity and bring home best practices as well as great insights that positively influence their peers.”

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Melanie Wan, Senior Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office, HKU (tel: 2859 2600 email: melwkwan@hku.hk).

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