CW Chu College The Chinese University of Hong Kong eNewsletter

Through the GOAL Programme of United College, two CWC students participated in a two-week Summer Programme at Utrecht University in the Netherlands in July 2016. The following is an extract of the sharing from Mr CHAN Chin Wang and Mr CHAN Wang Fung about their studies and experience last summer.

For the full version of their sharing, please click here.

By CHAN Chin Wang (Erwin)

What I did here was inspiring and meaningful. We were invited to tell the difference between our original perception of Europe and the one that we had experienced during our stay. The answers were all-rounded, ranging from language to weather, from table etiquette to public transports. In one of the afternoon seminars, we were divided into five groups, each representing a European country, and our role was to investigate some current political and social issues faced by those countries. I was representing the Spanish government, and raised my concerns about the problem of local unemployment, solutions to the Euro Debt Crisis in 2008, as well as refugees. We had heated debate and discussions in this seminar, and it helped us a lot by looking into different European countries from their perspectives. I would say it is rare to have opportunities like these in Hong Kong.

By CHAN Wang Fung (Raphael)

One thing I am most impressed about is the study environment. Students are punctual, attentive to the lectures, enthusiastic in making a point during tutorials; but after class, they are just as relaxed and playful like every college student in the world. On a side note, cultural difference, be it intercontinental or simply within Europe, is one of the issues crucial in the course on topics like integration or immigration. The course has varied students and lecturers from across Europe and even around the globe; differences are not only studied as text in books and slides, but directly felt during and after class…One thing I especially appreciate is the Dutch's awareness of waste reduction. Contrary to the huge amount of plastic bottles and aluminum cans dumped in Hong Kong, the Dutch use glass or high quality reusable bottles for packaging drinks. Although one has to pay more, the bottles are refundable upon return to the seller or the designated machines. Thanks to the convenience and monetary incentive, many are willing to cooperate, and many bottles can be successfully retrieved.