Media

HKU Welcomes Non-local Students to its Family

27 Aug 2010

 

HKU Welcomes Non-local Students to its Family

Nearly 1,000 students from overseas and the Mainland were at Loke Yew Hall of the University of Hong Kong today (August 27) to celebrate the beginning of their campus life here. 

Welcoming the new students to the HKU family, HKU Pro-Vice-Chancellor Designate Professor Roland Chin encouraged them to find fun in their campus life and to enjoy it.

"Do what interest you, and not just do what will give you a good job, or good salary. That is secondary. Whether you are picking your courses, or picking friends, do what interest you. That is the most important. And do it with your heart."

As international students will find a lot of differences between HK and their home country, it will be important for them to keep an open mind and to reach out to the local culture and local students, Professor Chin remarked.

Dr Albert Chau, HKU Dean of Students Affairs, urged students to embrace diversity and inclusion. He introduced to students the diversified and internationalized culture at HKU, and the support and facilities available to cater for diverse needs.

This year, HKU admitted about 1,400 students from 59 countries and areas to its undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Another 563 students have enrolled in various exchange programmes.

The undergraduate programme alone admitted about 196 students (excluding Mainland students), an increase of 73 percent from last year. A total of 2,240 applications were received, an increase of 68 percent from last year. The students admitted come from 31 countries in America, Europe and Asia. Among them about 67 are from South Korea, 24 from Malaysia and 15 from Taiwan. About 284 students were admitted from the Mainland this year.

The new students were taken on a full day orientation activities to familiarize with the facilities and services in the campus, and to get to know about the life style and culture of Hong Kong.

For media enquiries, please contact: Ms Trinni Choy (Assistant Director (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2606 email: pychoy@hku.hk  or Ms Melanie Wan (Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2600 email: melwkwan@hku.hk.