In the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), UIC was the first university jointly established by the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, attracting outstanding teachers from Hong Kong and Macao. Recently, supported by Zhuhai Educational Bureau, UIC conducted tours for Hong Kong and Macao staff to Zhuhai’s leading enterprises, including Zhuhai Gree Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd, and corporates in Kingsoft Software Park.
UIC staff in Gree
Dr Andy Fung: Zhuhai has enormous potential for cultural development
Dr Andy Shui-Lung Fung, Associate Professor of UIC’s Chinese Language and Culture Centre and Associate Director of Research Institute of Chinese Culture, is from Hong Kong. He joined UIC in 2009.
During the tour in Gree, he found the enterprise culture quite different compared to the companies in Hong Kong.
According to Dr Fung, Zhuhai has considerable development potential in the arts and culture sectors. For him, who has a keen interest in Chinese culture and drama, places with an excellent cultural atmosphere like museums, bookstores, and cinemas are the ones he visits the most during leisure.
Dr Fung (first from right) in a movie sharing salon of Zhuhai
UIC shares abundant academic resources and convenient transport. Under such conditions, Dr Fung led a team of students to give a tour performance in Hong Kong, Macao, and Zhuhai. He was also able to engage in academic exchanges with scholars of the Greater Bay Area.
During the pandemic, Dr Fung and other Hong Kong staff got the jab of the COVID-19 vaccine at UIC, which was very convenient to them.
Charles Leung: research on social work in GBA
Dr Charles Tong-Lit Leung, Assistant Professor in the Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, was born in Hong Kong. Before joining UIC in 2016, he used to work in cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Dr Leung has extensive experience in social work. For several years, he contributed to the social work sector in the mainland, involved in teaching and research, skill training, supervision and evaluation. Last year, UIC established the Social Work Education Participation in Poverty Alleviation Practice and Training Base in Sichuan Daliangshan Huidong County. Dr Leung and his social work research team made their contributions.
Dr Leung is currently based in the GBA. He said field research in Zhuhai makes him better understand the residents, promoting his academic comparison research between SARs and the mainland.
Dr Leung (Left) involved in the mainland’s social work sector for years
He said the talents flow is promoted mutually. On the one hand, policies encouraged youths from Hong Kong and Macao for their career development in the mainland. On the other hand, graduates of UIC and other Mainland-Hong Kong cooperative universities are expected to gain more possibilities to work in Hong Kong once the initiatives to expand Hong Kong’s talent pool are implemented.
He also suggested that policymakers consider cultural communication when creating opportunities for exchanges and integration among the GBA talents.
Dr Alice Hui: convenient transport facilitates academic exchanges
Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics (AM) Programme Dr Alice Man-Wa Hui comes from Hong Kong. She is also the tutor at the Wisdom Student Hall. Staying in Zhuhai, she relishes UIC’s international teaching atmosphere and the hospitable environment of Zhuhai. She enjoys the living pace in Zhuhai with a work-life balance.
Dr Hui received grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in 2018 and 2020. The support from UIC and the country created good conditions for scientific research.
Zhuhai has an advantageous geographical location, making her convenient to engage in academic exchanges and seminars held in Hong Kong and Macao.
Dr Hui living with Zhuhai’s good sceneries
In the past five years, Dr Hui has witnessed how Zhuhai developed. Living in such a city with a bright future, she also expects to achieve teaching and research goals at UIC.
Dr Bing Chan: becoming a massive fan of Zhuhai
Assistant Professor of Marketing Management (MKT) Programme Dr Bing Chan started working at UIC in 2014. While living and studying in Australia for several years, she found Zhuhai a suitable living place. Considering the life after retirement, she and her family regard Zhuhai as an ideal place.
Talking about the campus atmosphere, she said mainland students show positive attitudes toward academic work and respect for teachers.
Dr Chan in the recent Airshow China (Zhuhai)
Based in Zhuhai, a city with abundant natural and historical-cultural resources, Dr Chan travels around with other Hong Kong staff in their spare time. She also visited the Airshow China (Zhuhai) during the past National holiday.
Dr Igor Filipe Do Amaral: discovering the potential of Zhuhai and Macao with music
Assistant Professor of the Music Performance (MUS) Programme Dr Igor Filipe Do Amaral comes from Macao. According to him, the cooperation between Macao and Zhuhai Hengqin District would tap the two cities’ significant potential.
The convenience of customs clearance makes it convenient for him to travel between Zhuhai and Macao. The implements also show the huge development potential of Hengqin and bring amenities to Zhuhai and Macao residents.
Dr Igor Filipe DO AMARAL in a concert
From MPRO
Reporter: Du Jiewen
Editors: Deen He, Covee Wang
