The Department of Public and International Affairs  The Department of Public and International Affairs

Study Tour/Summer School 2016

This study tour has provided valuable learning experiences for participants with intensive Korean language and culture immersion programme. 36 students participated in the study tour as a credit bearing course. This course is comprised of Korean language immersion (involving more than 180 learning hours) which involves 10 week intensive language programme (4 hours for 5 days x 10 weeks), several field trips, pre-tour activity (lecture on Korean culture & society) and post-tour activities (a group presentation and a study tour report). Students also participated 3 fieldtrips with 4 activities: 1 guided museum tour, 2 workshops and 1 field visit to K-style hub (an affiliated organization of Korean Tourism Board).

This study tour is a 10 week intensive language and culture immersion programme organized by Institute of International Education (‘IIE’), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. Prior to the departure to Korea, an orientation and a culture lecture were organized to provide an overview on Korean culture; to enhance the understanding of Korean society; and to facilitate the life in Korea for study tour participants. Upon return, the participants gave a group presentation and submitted a study tour report to demonstrate their knowledge and skills gained from the study tour.

Study Tour to Japan has been very popular among students and it is one of the important featured student activities in the minor programme. Nineteen students (14 AIS students and 5 minor students) participated in the credit-bearing study tour to Yokohama located in Tokyo of Japan from 30 June to 7 August 2016.

The tour's main aim was to broaden and deepen students’ knowledge in the Japan society and Japanese language. The study visit conveyed in fieldwork and language learning at the Kanagawa University. During the study tour, students attended language courses which aimed at improving students’ communication skills. The tour also includes various study visits and hands-on experience so that students can use the target language practically and interact with local students.

During 37 days of intense academic exchange programme at Kanagawa University, students were provided opportunity to learn different important issues in Japan through lectures and discussions. Academic lecture in English included Japanese Pop Culture, History, Economics and Politics. This enabled students to engage in their interested research area during the study tour and apply their knowledge in social science research acquired in their major courses.

Before returning to Hong Kong, students took an overnight trip to Fuji Mountain (staying at Fujimi Seminar House), to get some sense of Japan's beautiful nature, rich history surrounding the arts and religious activities, and increasingly globally significance of the living legend of Fuji Mountain.

Twenty AIS students participated in the credit-bearing study tour to Yogyakarta located in Indonesia's Central Java from 25 March to 4 April 2016.

The tour's main aim was to provide students with opportunities to study Indonesia's politics and society through an exposure to its culture and interactions with local people. In the first two days, students visited Borobudur Temple, the world largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist heritage, and learnt how to make Batik, a form of wax-resistant fabric dying that has been known as Indonesia's signature art.

During four days of intense academic exchange program at the Department of International Relations of the Gadjah Mada University, students were introduced to important issues, such as Indonesia's foreign policy, history, economy, international relations and its role in the region, as well as society and culture. Through the lectures and discussions, students exchanged ideas and opinions with local academics and students.

Before returning to Hong Kong, students took an overnight trip to Semarang, Central Java's provincial city, to get some sense of Indonesia's beautiful nature, rich history of trade and civilization, and increasingly globalized but simultaneously traditional life styles.