CityUHK x Cambridge LCC: Future global leaders embrace the vibrant vibes of Hong Kong
City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and the University of Cambridge have been working closely together to cultivate outstanding talent with a global perspective. CityUHK is the first international partner institution for the "Future Global Leaders Programme" (FGLP) at Lucy Cavendish, a constituent college of University of Cambridge. Following a successful exchange trip for CityUHK postgraduate students to the UK under this programme last September, ten Master’s students from Lucy Cavendish College visited CityUHK in mid-July this year for an eight-day on-campus exchange.
Spanning over a week, the exchange programme features a rich itinerary of industry sharing, cultural experiences and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Attaching great importance to community engagement, CityUHK arranged for the students to venture into the nearby Sham Shui Po district, a neighbourhood steeped in history, on the first day of the programme. Led by professional tour guides, they first visited the Heritage of Mei Ho House and Shek Kip Mei Estate, which bear witness to the history of public housing development in Hong Kong, gaining profound insights into the social cohesion of Hong Kong communities through the evolution of early resettlement areas.
The students then wandered through bustling Apliu Street, a vibrant open-air market that proved to be an eye-opening experience for the cohort from diverse academic backgrounds. Several students from Cambridge shared that their previous impression of Hong Kong was mostly confined to the glittering skyscrapers lining Victoria Harbour, and they were intrigued to experience the contrasting, authentic and lively side of the city in Sham Shui Po. Fascinated by the district's vibrant energy, the students not only paused to observe the unique local operations of the community but also eagerly interacted with stall owners and residents, personally experiencing the warmth and cultural depth of Hong Kong. This field trip allowed the students to step outside the traditional academic framework and appreciate, at a community level, the profound humanitarian care required of future global leaders.
In their subsequent itinerary, the students will visit global enterprises and engage in in-depth discussions with representatives from various organisations to learn about Hong Kong's business environment and grasp the latest development pulse of local and global commerce and industry. They will also interact with representatives of non-governmental organisations to discuss local sustainable development, actively exchanging insights and experiences relating to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
To further enhance the knowledge structure of these future leaders, the programme has also arranged for the students to learn public speaking techniques and intellectual property law from industry authorities. This aims to increase their impact in cross-cultural communication and foster a legal awareness to protect technological innovations and the fruits of wisdom, laying a solid foundation for them to realise their aspirations on the global stage.
