City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently signed institutional agreements with four European universities. The aim is to enhance our internationalisation strategy and enrich the learning experience of our students.

“We encourage our students to discover and innovate, and overseas exchanges will help them grow personally and professionally as they broaden their horizons,” said Professor Way Kuo, University President.

CityU’s ties with Europe are going from strength to strength. Professor Kuo led a six-member delegation for a week-long visit in early October to The University of Nottingham in the UK, Stockholm University in Sweden, and école Central de Lyon and the University of Lyon in France.

Members on the delegation included Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, Vice-President (Student Affairs), Professor Gregory Lee, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Kingsley Bolton, Head of the Department of English, Dr David Cheng Xing, Associate Vice-President (Mainland and External Affairs) and Ms Pauline Chan Hing-yan, Assistant to the President.

Using its Strategic Plan as its road map, CityU is dedicated to providing students with the best professional education and learning experience, with increased emphasis on international student exchanges. The University wants to see up to 50% of its students participating in overseas exchange programmes within the next few years. More European countries will be added to the list of possible destinations.

Student agreements were inked recently with the universities of Nottingham and Stockholm, as well as agreements on joint PhD and master’s programmes. In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on academic collaboration was signed with each of the two French universities.

“These agreements will expand our academic alliances with premier European universities for student and faculty exchanges,” Professor Kuo said. “They are linked with a series of other initiatives on campus, such as the recent Holland Cultural Festival 2010 and the MoU with Maastricht University. These ties will strengthen our academic and research programmes in all academic disciplines.”