APS students learn about oceanography and ocean management in EdUHK-OUC Exchange Programme

Eight undergraduate and postgraduate students from the former Department of Asian and Policy Studies (APS)* were invited to participate in the “2023 EdUHK-Ocean University of China Exchange Programme” jointly organised by the Office for Hong Kong and Macao Affairs (OHKMA) and the School of International Affairs and Public Administration (SIAPA) of the Ocean University of China (OUC). During the five-day exchange programme held between 17 and 21 May, our students visited OUC’s Laoshan and Yushan campuses in Qingdao, Shangdong. The programme provided a platform for our students to learn about marine sciences, ocean management and public administration.

Professor Wang Gang, Associate Dean of SIAPA, moderated the opening ceremony held at the Laoshan campus of OUC on 18 May 2023. At the ceremony, Mr Wang Hanlin, the Deputy Director of OHKMA, Professor Wu Shaobin, Party Secretary of the School of Political Science and Public Administration from Shangdong University (SDU); Professor Wang Qi, Dean of SIAPA; Mr Huang Litian, Deputy Party Secretary and Associate Dean of SIAPA; and Professor Lina Vyas, Programme Leader of Master of Public Policy and Management from APS, delivered inspiring speeches to open the event. They stated that the exchange programme is an opportunity to deepen cooperation between EdUHK and OUC.

With both included in the country’s Double First-Class University Plan, OUC and SDU have a long history of academic excellence, and are of very high academic status. While OUC is a prominent higher institution in the area of marine research and a cradle for the nation’s talents, SDU prides itself on laying down one of the foundations for the nation’s modern higher education. Participating students from APS visited OUC’s campuses in the Laoshan and Yushan districts of Qingdao city. They also visited various places of great learning value, including the world-renowned Tsingtao brewery and the office building of the provincial government of Shandong.

Professor Vyas said, “I thank OHKMA, OUC and SDU for arranging this wonderful exchange programme. Even though the programme only lasted for five days, it provided a great opportunity for our students to broaden their perspective, as well as to better understand Shandong’s history and its recent developments. Our students greatly enjoyed their exchange experience and friendship with their counterparts from OUC and SDU.”

Student representatives—Ms Liu Kenman from OUC, Mr Cao Chen from SDU and Ms Wang Yudan from APS—shared what they learnt from the exchange programme on the last day, saying it brought them closer and broadened their horizons. They added that all the participants enjoyed mutual progress and development.

Wang Yudan from APS shared that the lectures given by three professors from OUC during the programme gave them a glimpse of the frontier of ocean science and recent reform of the ocean management system. “Oceanology is a new field of knowledge to us. The lectures heightened our awareness about the importance of the ocean to humanity. OUC’s motto, “The ocean embraces all rivers, small or big. Following the scientific rules and aiming high, and you will sail far**” encourages us to be open-minded and inclusive about acquiring knowledge, just like the ocean embracing rivers. We must study hard and make contributions to society like a ship sailing far in the ocean,” she said.

Note:

*The Department of Asian and Policy Studies was merged with the Department of Social Sciences in July to form the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies.

**Translated from: 海納百川、取則行遠