The following serves to provide the University of Arkansas with an initial pool of information on City University Hong Kong as a resource for future exchange students. This overview is by no means comprehensive and the experience described is of course my subjective opinion.
Hong Kong is an incredibly interesting city with a complex
history and culture. I would equate the living/social conditions here to any
other global metropolitan city. While Hong Kong is a Chinese territory,
students should know that it differs greatly from mainland China. A vast
simplification would be to say that the western influence, degree of regulatory
autonomy, and capitalist economy has resulted in Hong Kong’s unique position. The
city was a British territory until 1997, when it was returned to the central
government in Beijing. I would recommend that potential students research the
history of any exchange location under consideration to provide a hedge against
ineptitude. At first glance, I would describe the local culture as pragmatic
with an undertone of fatalism. Under British rule Hong Kong developed into a
global center of trade, with developed equity markets and specialized human
capital. In the past decade the city's comparative
advantage has been eroded by the mainland and with this erosion there grows a
fear that the long standing social freedom of Hong Kong will disappear. Of course once you work on getting to know
some of the locals, they exhibit as much warmth and openness as anyone anywhere
else.
My experience at City University was satisfactory overall. The
school is very modern with adequate facilities and residential accommodations.
I would heavily advise that incoming students secure on campus housing as flat
prices in Hong Kong are much more expensive. The coursework requires a great deal of
autonomy and most of your grades are derived from your final test score and
research papers. In my opinion I would opt to take electives and non-core
coursework. The lecture on average lacked any real utility and I found the
explanation of complex topics to be somewhat impeded by language. The locals
speak English and Cantonese. Students looking to improve their mandarin might
consider the mainland. If you are considering doing business in China, the
economic coursework was very insightful.
If the academics are in fact mediocre, and if my initial
perception of the social environment was somewhat sterile, why should you go to
City University Hong Kong? Well... If you enjoy having lots of time in your
schedule to eat, drink, and travel, you might just enjoy the autonomy. If like
myself, you like to read and learn on your own, City University provides a
blank slate for you to pursue anything that interests you. While I did observe
a degree of formality in everyday interactions, the social scene and nightlife
in Hong Kong are quite stimulating. I would describe the aesthetic as cyberpunk
meets Las Vegas. There is an astounding amount of cultural diversity. Art, music,
food(amazing), it's all here. While Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon peninsula
are crowded cityscapes, a brief transit away are lush mountains(new territories)
and white sandy beaches(surrounding islands). Don't try and project an
aesthetic/experience beforehand, just let it happen.
