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CityUHK COM and Columbia University Explore Partnership in Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program

15 Oct 2025 (Wed)



Left: Mr. Carl Tang, Associate Director of GEO, CityUHK, Prof. Shuhua Zhou, Chair Professor of COM, CityUHK, Prof. Yi-Hui Christine Huang, Head and Chair Professor of COM, CityUHK, Ms. Jessica Sarles, Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Partnership, Columbia University, Mr. Curtis Rodgers, Vice Dean of the School of General Studies, Columbia University, Prof. Chris Fei Shen, Associate Head of COM, CityUHK and Prof. Fen Lin, Professor & Associate Vice-President (Global Strategy), CityUHK.

The Department of Media and Communication (COM) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) joined a delegation from Columbia University's School of General Studies (GS) on October 2, 2025. Representatives from both institutions engaged in discussions about future collaboration, including exploring the potential for a Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program (JBDP). This development represents a significant milestone for CityUHK in its journey to becoming a hub for versatile professional communicators.

The Columbia University delegation was led by Mr. Curtis Rodgers, Vice Dean of the School of General Studies, and Ms. Jessica Sarles, Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships. They met with a cross-functional team from CityUHK led by Professor Yi-Hui Christine Huang, Head and Chair Professor of the Department of Media and Communication, Prof. Chris Fei Shen, Associate Head of COM, Prof. Shuhua Zhou, Chair Professor of COM and Prof. Fen Lin, Professor & Associate Vice-President (Global Strategy). The CityUHK delegation also included representatives from the Global Engagement Office (GEO), the Admissions Office.

The primary focus of the constructive and fruitful meeting was the potential integration of COM’s curriculum with relevant majors offered at Columbia GS. ‘It is definitely a great chance for COM to share insights and enthusiasm with Columbia University, especially for exploring suitable majors to align with our programs. We look forward to continuing our dialogue and working together on the next step,’ said Professor Huang.

The discussion was further enriched by insightful contributions on approval procedures and student recruitment from Mr. Carl Tang, Associate Director of the Global Engagement Office, and Ms. Stephanie Kwan, Assistant Manager of the Admissions Office. 

Both sides concurred on maintaining their dialogue, with a follow-up meeting tentatively planned for Spring 2026. This ongoing partnership highlights their mutual dedication to offering students outstanding global academic opportunities and promoting the growth of cross-disciplinary talent.