Celebrating 50 years of partnership with the University of California

This year marks CUHK 50th year of international education partnership with the University of California (UC) system, the first exchange partner of the University. Being a forerunner in international education, CUHK is the first university to pioneer international exchange in the territory, facilitating cultural exchange between China and the West. CUHK is also the first Hong Kong partner of the UC system, whose exchange programme is administered by a centralised programme known as the University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP).

To celebrate this important milestone, a roundtable co-chaired by Prof. Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President, CUHK and Prof. Hsiu-Zu Ho, Associate Dean, UCEAP on ‘Hong Kong and California: Strategic Initiatives, Ideas, and Innovations for the Next Generation of Global Leaders’ was held on 10 April 2015. Dr. Richard Armour, Secretary-General of the University Grants Committee spoke on Hong Kong’s internationalisation initiatives. Other seasoned educators from Hong Kong and the US discussed rising issues in international education and exchange, covering strategies of international education, the role of the language of instruction in international education, opportunities and challenges in various overseas learning programmes, and issues faced by US students while on exchange in China. Some of the speakers included Mr. Eric Ng, Registrar and Secretary, CUHK; Prof. Ian Holliday, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, The University of Hong Kong; and Prof. Cindy Fan, Vice Provost for International Studies, UC Los Angeles.

Besides, a gala reception was held by UCEAP on the following day when alumni and friends caught with each other and reminisced the early years of UC’s partnerships in Hong Kong and celebrated its achievements.