The 7th International Partner Day (IPD) at CUHK(SZ) took place successfully on 8 November, 2024. The event brought together 50 representatives from 47 prestigious universities across 18 countries and regions, fostering meaningful interactions with CUHK(SZ)’s faculty and students.

The participating institutions include University of California, Berkeley; The University of Chicago; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Wisconsin-Madison; The University of British Columbia; University of Oxford; University of Cambridge; London School of Economics and Political Science; The University of Manchester; École Polytechnique; Bocconi University; National University of Singapore; Singapore Management University; The Australian National University; The Chinese University of Hong Kong; The University of Auckland; Aoyama Gakuin University; Hanyang University, etc.

Professor Zhu Shiping, Vice President of CUHK(SZ), delivered a keynote address during the opening ceremony. He emphasised the University’s remarkable achievements in teaching, research, and education, driven by its strategic focus on disciplinary development and its unique position in Shenzhen, which is often referred to as “China’s Silicon Valley.” This thriving hub of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship has enabled CUHK(SZ) to flourish as a leader in higher education.

Professor Zhu underscored internationalisation as a defining feature of CUHK(SZ). The University attracts world-renowned scholars and scientists, adheres to globally recognised standards in its curriculum, textbooks, and teaching methods, and adopts English as the medium of instruction. With a robust offering of international exchange, visiting, and summer study abroad programs, the University boasts an impressive record, with 60% of its undergraduate students engaging in credit-bearing overseas study experiences — one of the highest among universities in the Chinese Mainland. Furthermore, international students comprise nearly 10% of the undergraduate cohort, reflecting CUHK(SZ)’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community.

To date, CUHK(SZ) has established over 257 international programs in collaboration with more than 150 world-renowned universities across 34 countries and regions. These initiatives aim to offer students a wide range of opportunities for global engagement.

During the student-sharing session, Zhou Xiaobai from the School of Humanities and Social Science, Shaw College, and Jiang Hanxia from the School of Management and Economics, Minerva College, shared their enriching experiences from their study-abroad programs. Xiaobai recounted her time at the University of New South Wales in Australia, while Hanxia reflected on her participation in the University of Oxford’s summer program in the UK. Additionally, Mia Rzymkowska from the University of Warwick in the UK and Jean-Pierre Desarzens from The Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland, shared insights into their exchange experiences at CUHK(SZ).

In the afternoon, program leaders from partner institutions and student representatives — more than 60 participants in total—set up booths along the University’s National Flag Corridor. These booths provided on-site program consultations, offering CUHK(SZ) students valuable opportunities for face-to-face interactions with partner university representatives.

To further familiarise the representatives with Shenzhen and appreciate the technological development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Office of Academic Links (OAL) organised a visit to BGI Group on the morning of 9 November.

Lu Guoliang, Director of International Public Affairs of BGI Group, introduced the company’s organizational structure, the development history of genetic technology, and BGI’s cutting-edge sequencing equipment. Visitors experienced a strong atmosphere of innovation and entrepreneurship in Shenzhen through this visit.

IPD is an annual branding event organised by the Office of Academic Links (OAL) at CUHK(SZ) to strengthen international partnerships. It is also a key highlight of the University’s “Study Abroad Season” series of events. We look forward to welcoming representatives from partner institutions around the world back to CUHK(SZ) next November!