The opening ceremony of the Summer Programme HKBU (Hong Kong Baptist University) 2013 for UIC students took place on 5 July.
Since 2007, UIC has organised a summer programme at HKBU once a year to provide its students with experience of the social life and academic environment of Hong Kong and communication with local communities. This summer, 372 UIC students entered the programme at the university in Hong Kong.
Prof. Ng Ching Fai, President of UIC, expressed his gratitude to both HKBU and UIC staff, with whose support the summer programme has become more and more popular among UIC students. He said to the students in the opening speech: “UIC belongs to HKBU family. I hope you can take this opportunity not only to learn the subject matter, but also to learn about the culture, environment, strengths and weaknesses of the Hong Kong society. Don't’ just look at the surface, but to see more about Hong Kong.”
Prof. Ng hopes the Summer Programme participants will have a memorable and rewarding summer
Prof. Franklin Luk, Acting President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, introduced some of the newly-established facilities, and welcomed all UIC guests to the campus. “I hope you will come back again [in the future] and by that time we hope there will be more hostel places so that we can welcome more students from UIC,” he said.
Prof. Luk extends his greeting to the UIC students
A student representative, Chen Luman, who studies in the Teaching English as a Second Language Programme of UIC, delivered a vote of thanks. She was fully inspired by the exciting programme, and said: “In addition to experiencing the academic life at this terrific university, we are able to get closer to the real Hong Kong through a variety of activities. We are looking forward to a fruitful month at HKBU. We are ready!”
Chen Luman speaks for the students at the ceremony
After the student representatives declared the student charter of HKBU, Dr. Guo Haipeng, Director of Whole Person Education Office at UIC and Chairman of the Organising Committee of Summer Programme HKBU 2013, concluded the opening ceremony. He encouraged students to learn from their teachers not only useful knowledge and practical skills, but also the wisdom of how to become a whole person. “I also hope you can contribute to Hong Kong society by serving the people in need. The more you give, the more you will gain from the service experiences,” he said.
Dr. Guo concludes the opening ceremony
Besides the students, the opening ceremony was attended by HKBU’s Prof. Ricky Wong Ngok Shun, Acting Associate Vice-President; Prof Hoshmand Reza, Director of General Education; Prof. Chris Wong K C, Head of the Department of Biology; Prof. Cheuk Pak Tong, Director of the Academy of Film; and the Summer Programme teachers; and UIC’s Prof. Chan Moung-Yin, Associate Vice President; Prof. Stella Cho, Dean of the Division of Business and Management; Prof. Mei-Hwa Sung, Dean of the Division of Humanities & Social Sciences; and other staff members.
The attendees of the opening ceremony
During the Summer Programme HKBU 2013 from 3 July to 2 August, every student is allowed to select at most two out of 22 courses, and each is valued at three credits. After class students have multiple options of practical activities, such as visiting the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, joining flag-selling for public fundraising of charities, and discussing about undergraduate and graduate study in Hong Kong with the Registrar of HKBU.
Reporter/Photographer: Deen He
(from MPRO, with special thanks to the ELC)
