Intercultural Immersive Exchange Programme
2023-2024

Programme Aims

Global citizenship refers to “the belief that individuals are members of multiple, diverse, local and non-local communities” and promoting global citizenship “allows individuals to embrace their social responsibility to act for the benefit of all societies” (United Nations Academic Impact https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/global-citizenship). While the United Nations recognises that fostering the value of global citizenship is achieved through Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education), actual learning and practices happen when students interact with local people and engage in on-site immersive experiential learning in civic societies beyond Hong Kong. The Intercultural Immersive Exchange (IIE) programme is intended to support students’ overseas exchanges and help them practise global citizenship and cultivate intercultural competencies.

The programme’s aims are two-fold:

  1. To cultivate students’ change mindsets and sustainable thinking through immersive learning, service-learning, and experiential learning abroad;
  2. To offer vital financial support to students who wish to acquire English or foreign language skills through immersion in language-rich environments.

Expected Outcomes

Eligible graduates of NGCE and foreign language courses in Year 1, 2, 3, 4 or above (see below) can enroll in the IIE programme in order to enhance their intercultural competence. This opportunity allows them to actively engage in cultural learning, enhance language skills and communicative competence.

Students at home will have the opportunity to listen to IIE students share their experiences. They will be motivated to take foreign language courses and broaden their worldviews.

The IIE, along with its promotional activities and student-led events such as ‘Internationalization at Home’, underscores the university’s mission to promote cross-cultural learning (2018-2028 Strategic Priority I). This further enhances HKBU’s reputation as a driving force for positive societal change.

Eligibility Criteria

Students who have completed the NGCE course are eligible for the programme if they meet the following criteria:

  1. having attained a grade of B or above in University English I or II or received a recommendation from an NGCE teacher (i.e., email proof stating the student’s merits and suitability); and
  2. having passed an interview arranged by the LC and demonstrated a strong study plan as well as motivation for learning the principles of global citizenship through immersion.

Students who have completed a foreign language course at the LC are eligible for the programme if they meet the following criteria:

  1. having attained a grade of B or above in any foreign language course at Level II or higher, or received a recommendation from a foreign language teacher (i.e., email proof stating the student’s merits and suitability); and
  2. having passed an interview arranged by the LC and demonstrated a strong study plan, motivation for learning the principles of global citizenship through immersion, as well as an adequate command of the language of the destination country.

Students who have established connections with reputable international organisations (such as the United Nations and the Red Cross, or overseas NGOs) are eligible for the programme if they also meet the following criteria:

  1. having attained a grade of B or above in University English I or II or received a recommendation from a UE teacher (i.e., email proof stating the student’s merits and suitability); and
  2. having passed an interview arranged by the LC and demonstrated a strong study plan as well as motivation for learning the principles of global citizenship through immersion.

Application

If you are interested in applying for the sponsorship, please

  1. review and look for potential exchange programmes on International Office’s website and ensure that your chosen program is 4 to 6 weeks long;
  2. sign up for a briefing session on 15 April via this link or the QR (You will receive details of the briefing session after registration); and
  3. submit your completed application form here or via the QR code by 12 May 2024.
Sign up for the briefing session
Apply for sponsorship

Enquiry

Ms. LI Yongshi (Tel.: 3411 5899 / Email: yongshi_li@hkbu.edu.hk)