Hong Kong to enhance student exchanges with Australia

Pilot initiative under discussion.

According to a report, Australia has invited Hong Kong to participate in the pilot phase of a new student-exchange initiative that would provide more opportunities for Australian students to study and undertake internships in the city.

In a Saturday meeting, Secretary for Education Eddie Ng and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop discussed the Australian Government's New Colombo Plan initiative, which aims to bolster knowledge of the Asia Pacific in Australia.

Mr Ng welcomed the invitation for Hong Kong to participate, as it "provided an excellent opportunity to boost the number of Australians studying in Hong Kong and raise Hong Kong's profile in Australia," he said.

“We share the common vision of widening students' horizons and nurturing leaders with global perspectives and abilities to thrive in a multicultural environment.

To this end, Hong Kong has been actively promoting student exchange. With about 4,400 incoming and 4,200 outgoing students on exchange in our public institutions last year, about one out of four of our undergraduate students already have the opportunity to spend a semester or so to broaden exposure outside Hong Kong," Mr Ng added.

"Australian students will benefit from the opportunity to study at Hong Kong's world-class institutions and the 'East meets West' culture. With thousands of Hong Kong students enrolled in Australian institutions each year, the New Colombo Plan will further enhance two-way student mobility through educational exchange," Ms Bishop said.

Singapore, Indonesia and Japan have also been invited to participate in the pilot phase. Other regional partners will be invited to join the programme from 2015.