The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) and the Warsaw-based Centre for International Relations (CIR) hosted an expert briefing on study opportunities in Hong Kong at the University of Warsaw on March 6 (Warsaw time). Close to 80 Polish students, mostly from the university in the fields of international relations and foreign languages and cultures, as well as technical and scientific studies, participated to learn more about Asia’s world city.
The Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Bill Li, gave a presentation on the unique advantages of studying at Hong Kong’s numerous excellent universities and the valuable living and working experience offered to students from around the world. "Hong Kong is not only Asia's business capital and the gateway for Polish businesses to China but also a great place to study. Hong Kong's post-secondary education institutions offer a variety of high-quality programmes, which are internationally recognised," Mr Li said.
He also introduced Hong Kong's scholarship opportunities and other benefits such as the Talent List of Hong Kong and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme that facilitate immigration to Hong Kong for young talents. Mr Li also highlighted the outstanding research opportunities in Hong Kong. In the 2019-20 Budget, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced plans to inject HK$20 billion to the Research Endowment Fund and to allocate HK$16 billion for research and development facilities refurbishment in universities. In this regard, Mr Li pointed to Hong Kong's role as the region's innovation and technology centre and emphasised the value of academic freedom in the city.
The subsequent panel discussion was moderated by the President of the CIR, Dr Małgorzata Bonikowska. Mr Li was joined on the stage by the Deputy Director of the Research and International Co-operation Department at the University of Warsaw, Dr Kamil Zajączkowski, and former student in Hong Kong Mr Stephen Lam, who discussed his personal experience and gave practical advice to the local audience on studying in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's high-quality programmes are taught in English, and the universities adopt international standards in curriculum design as well as quality assurance. Of the 21 local degree-awarding higher education institutions, three are ranked in the world's top 50 and three in Asia's top 10 by the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings 2019. Hong Kong universities also offer some of the world's best business administration and management programmes.
To attract outstanding non-local students to study in Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government offers several scholarship opportunities. Among them, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Scholarship Fund offers HK$80,000 per year for each scholarship awardee, and the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme provides an annual stipend of HK$240,000 and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$10,000 per year to each awardee for a period of up to three years.
Hong Kong is an innovative and open city, offering a high quality of life with its vibrant cultural scene and diverse natural attractions, including beaches, mountains and country parks. For more details about studying and living in Hong Kong, visit studyinhongkong.edu.hk.
About HKETO Berlin
HKETO Berlin is the official Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Poland as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.