Building on the successful five-city promotion during the 13th China International Education Exhibition Tour in early March, City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has embarked on a series of mainland student recruitment activities in various provinces and cities. With a two-pronged strategy aimed at recruiting more high-quality mainland students, the University has extended invitations to mainland students and parents to attend CityU's undergraduate programme Information Day to gain a better understanding of the University.

Dr Zhu Guobin, Director of the External Liaison and Cooperation Office (ELCO), led a delegation to mainland provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Guizhou, between 15 April and 21 April for a series of recruitment activities. The delegation hosted large recruitment information seminars, met the administrators of leading secondary schools, participated in open days at prestigious universities, visited many top-notch secondary schools, took part in student recruitment seminars organised by mainland admission authorities and held press conferences. They not only introduced the achievements and strengths of CityU but also talked directly to students, parents and the media.

The two recruitment information seminars in Shanghai and Hangzhou received an overwhelming response, attracting more than 500 students and parents. The attendance highlighted the recognition of CityU's professional education and quality programmes as one of the top choices in the minds of mainland students.

During the information seminars, Dr Zhu introduced CityU's undergraduate programmes, study environment, application procedures, past recruitment results and the recruitment quota for this year. Also, Dr Zhu pointed out that CityU is a young, energetic and proactive university that excels in adaptability, creativity and vitality in its provision of a diverse range of programmes.

"To attract more outstanding students to CityU, we also held recruitment information seminars in Beijing, Guangdong and Jiangsu, where there are many high-quality potential university students," said Dr Zhu.

Mr Wang Chenghui, Deputy Director of the Higher Education Enrolment Office, Shanghai Municipal Educational Examinations Authority, accepted CityU's invitation to attend the recruitment information seminar in Shanghai. He expressed gratitude to CityU for holding recruitment information seminars in Shanghai, which enabled students and parents to learn more about the programmes and study environment of the University. "More and more mainland students, with better examination scores, apply for admission to CityU," said Mr Wang.

To further promote CityU on the mainland, the delegation hosted talks at leading secondary schools in such cities as Ningbo, Shaoxing and Suzhou. Exhibition booths were also set up on open days at renowned universities such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Fudan University. Students and parents there were introduced to CityU's admission requirements and programme features and had their enquiries answered.

Dr Zhu met the administrators of about 30 top-notch secondary schools in Shanghai during the trip, introducing to them the unique features of CityU and establishing a close relationship. In addition, Dr Zhu and the delegation met 10 media organisations in Zhejiang and were interviewed for a television programme by Zhejiang Television Station. In a live-broadcast by Beijing People's Radio, Dr Zhu introduced the University, its admission policy and criteria and application procedures.

ELCO hosted an undergraduate programme information day on the CityU campus on 2 May for mainland students and parents, making it possible for them to learn first-hand about the internationalised study environment, comprehensive facilities and support services of the University. They also talked to mainland students studying at CityU about their experience living and studying at the University.

"Aiming to recruit more high-quality mainland students, we plan to launch different recruitment activities for various provinces and cities each year. For 2008-09 recruitment, we started our promotion work last October," said Dr Zhu.

CityU conducted its first mainland student recruitment exercise through the National College Joint Entrance Examination Scheme in 2005, and began to admit students in the pre-selection round last year. The examination scores, English proficiency and general quality of mainland students admitted are on the rise year-by-year.