Partner Profile: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is one of NC State’s strategic partnerships and a top university in Asia. A diverse range of high-quality academic programs at PolyU develops graduates who are critical thinkers, effective communicators, innovative problem solvers, and socially responsible global citizens. The university embraces “an innovative, interdisciplinary and forward-thinking research culture that supports our academics in conducting research that is closely tied to the needs of our community and the wider world.”
PolyU is located in one of the world’s busiest and most culturally diverse cities. Hong Kong was occupied by the British from 1841 until 1997, when sovereign power over Hong Kong reverted back to China. Today, Hong Kong is a vibrant cultural and economic center. The city is divided into four main areas: Kowloon, Hong Kong Island, the New Territories, and the Outlying Islands. PolyU is located in Kowloon, which is a peninsula of the Chinese mainland, on the northern side of Victoria Harbor.
NC State student Nishant Singh chose to study abroad in Hong Kong because he knew the culture would be different from home, and he “made it a point to not know anybody or go with any friends.”
“These circumstances allowed me to really push myself out of my comfort zone and test how I can adapt,” said Singh of his study abroad experience. “I didn’t know the language, the culture, or the people, but I was there for a semester and had to survive. I’m happy to say I did more than just survive, I welcomed every new experience with open arms and realized that I am the type to adapt to anything thrown at me and can find happiness in all situations.”
Jasmine Lang studied at PolyU in the spring of 2018 and enjoyed her time out of the classroom in Hong Kong with new friends – singing karaoke, playing games, and watching anime. During his semester abroad in Hong Kong at PolyU, Ulises Gutierrez had the opportunity to travel to Vietnam and stay in a rural village.
His favorite part about the program? “How many students from around the globe participated in it. There were quite a few American students, but the vast majority of the program consisted of students from Europe, Asia, Australia, and even Latin America. We all got to experience the same thing in Hong Kong but everyone came from different backgrounds so they had a slightly different perspective. These differences let us not only learn about our host country but also the countries that everyone else was from.”
The university enrolls approximately 27,000 full-time and part-time students. Learn more about opportunities to study abroad at PolyU.
This post was originally published in Office of Global Engagement.
