Immersion, insight and impact: A transformative semester for Stanford students in Hong Kong
CUHK Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dennis Lo (middle, front) and university representatives meet with the BOSP students at a welcome dinner.
This semester, CUHK is hosting the fifth cohort of 17 students from Stanford University (Stanford)’s Bing Overseas Studies Programme (BOSP), a tailor-made overseas exchange initiative that allows Stanford students to experience international education at one of its 12 global study away destinations.
During their semester at CUHK, students are engaging in a dynamic mix of classroom learning, field-based exploration, and community activities that highlight both traditional Chinese culture and Hong Kong’s vibrant cultural landscape. The cohort is accompanied by Prof. Wendy Gu, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford and faculty-in-residence for this year’s programme.
Academically, students benefited from courses taught by distinguished faculty whose expertise draws on the region’s social, historical, and economic contexts. Classroom learning was complemented by curated field trips, enabling students to see how theory intersects with the lived realities of the city. As BOSP student Christopher Perez shared: ‘By joining both field trips and cultural activities, we were offered so many chances to explore the city and local culture!’ These multifaceted experiences deepened their appreciation of Hong Kong’s diversity and complexity.
Students have gained a deeper appreciation of Hong Kong’s vibrant communities through immersive neighbourhood visits.
A defining highlight of the semester was the programme excursion to Meizhou in the Chinese Mainland, widely regarded as the cultural heartland of the Hakka people. Through visits to traditional residences, cultural institutions, and community sites, students gained firsthand insight into Hakka heritage. Another cohort member, Katherine Rodriguez, reflected: ‘The excursion to Meizhou was indeed a unique experience that allowed us to immerse ourselves into the Chinese history and learn more about Hakka Culture!’ Beyond cultural learning, the shared journey fostered strong bonds among the cohort and created lasting memories.
Students explore Meizhou’s rich Hakka heritage and landscapes.
Back in Hong Kong, course-based field experiences further enhanced understanding of local life. Visits to neighbourhoods such as Central, Admiralty, Jordon, Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, Ping Shan, along with engagements with NGOs and community leaders, offered nuanced perspectives on social change, heritage, and creativity.
CUHK deeply values this important partnership with Stanford and looks forward to its continued growth, creating an internationalised campus where students have ample opportunities for academic exchange and cross-cultural dialogue.