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How to help Hong Kong students navigate their university choices and career paths
Choosing a course is a delicate balance of passion, parental expectations and the prospects of a fulfilling career
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For Hong Kong’s students, going to university is a defining moment, fraught with a complex calculus of personal passion, parental expectation and the perceived demands of a volatile job market. Yet, as educators and counsellors attest, the most successful path forward is not one of enforced compromise but of a more integrated way of thinking, merging practical experience with intellectual passion and purposeful career planning.
From the experiential learning labs of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) to the holistic advice at Harrow International School Hong Kong, the focus is on empowering a generation to build resilient and fulfilling futures.
Focus on the reality
When selecting a university course, it’s critical to look beyond the title and understand the day-to-day reality for students. Professor Alvin Leung, associate dean for undergraduate programmes at CityUHK’s College of Business, explains that their courses are built on experiential learning. “We emphasise providing students with hands-on opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios.” This approach, he says, ensures students not only grasp key concepts but also learn how to implement them effectively.
Terence Yau, associate director, university and careers guidance at Malvern College Hong Kong, underlines the need to be ready for a dynamic future. “We are living in a world that is rapidly changing and evolving,” he says. This shift has catalysed new opportunities, compelling universities to design innovative, interdisciplinary undergraduate programmes.
According to Yau, these programmes – in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), pandemic management, environmental sustainability and new energies – are designed to cultivate global citizens.
Jonny Franks, assistant head (sixth form) at Harrow International School Hong Kong, emphasises that the transition to academic independence is a crucial aspect of university life.
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