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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) launched Hong Kong’s first university-industry co-operative education programme, Co-op@CUHK, in 2021. The programme offers participating students six to eight months of full-time, full-pay, full-credit work placements. Since it launched, Co-op@CUHK has equipped more than 1,000 students to kickstart their careers and cultivated the next generation of leadership talent for society. Co-op@CUHK held  the annual ceremony  recently, with more than 450 valued partners, employer representatives and students gathering to celebrate the programme’s achievements.

Professor Isabella Poon Wai-yin, Provost of CUHK, delivered welcome remarks, saying: “With the frequent exchanges between Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road regions, we have a growing need for students with an international perspective. We have actively expanded the reach of Co-op@CUHK to the Chinese Mainland and overseas. Students can gain valuable work experience in the Greater Bay Area, Beijing, Shanghai and other Chinese Mainland cities, as well as in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, and others, creating a wealth of non-local career opportunities to broaden their global horizons.”

Professor Irwin King Kuo-chin, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) of CUHK, also encouraged the participating students, adding: “Through Co-op@CUHK, I believe students have learnt to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds and solve problems in a rapidly changing environment. Concurrently, students have learnt to flexibly translate theoretical knowledge into practical real-world applications. Most importantly, we hope students maintain a mindset of growth and continuous exploration.”

Ms Cecilia Ho Chung-chee, President of the Lee Hysan Foundation, who was one of the officiating guest during the ceremony, noted: “From sponsoring the construction of various campus buildings to investing in the next generation through Co-op@CUHK, the Lee Hysan Foundation has remained steadfast in its support of CUHK’s development. While we do not provide direct placement opportunities, we contribute by imparting values and experience to students, enhancing their resilience, collaborative skills, and global perspectives to shape them into the leaders of tomorrow.”

Mr Terry Wong Ping-sau, CEO of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), Co-op@CUHK’s corporate partner, said: “By welcoming students to HKSTP through Co-op@CUHK, we are offering more than just a job. We are inviting them to co-build an innovation and technology ecosystem where students, startups and industry partners grow together. We integrate talent, capital, research and enterprise into this ecosystem to transform ideas into tangible solutions. Therefore, do not wait until graduation to join us and become a part of our community as early as possible.”

Co-op@CUHK has produced significant results. The number of corporate partners has increased to more than 130, providing more than 700 local, Chinese Mainland and overseas placement opportunities. Mr Paul Cheng Ming-fun, Co-op@CUHK Advisory Board Member and CUHK Honorary Fellow, noted: “For students, Co-op@CUHK enhances professional skills and prepares them for the workplace before graduation. For employers, it allows them to identify and recruit young talent, building a talent pool early. Co-op@CUHK also contributes to Hong Kong’s ongoing key role in national development by aligning talent growth with national development strategies.”

As a result of the programme, students have benefited greatly from the opportunity to gain valuable workplace experience through internships. Shalina Telaga, a fifth-year student in the Biomedical Sciences programme, who comes from Indonesia, was placed at an insurance company in Japan. Through the internship, she realised that while academic knowledge may differ from workplace practice, the underlying modes of thinking can be transferable. She said: “The analytical mindset I developed in science—asking precise questions, breaking down complexity, working with evidence—translated directly into innovation and strategy. This journey showed me that growth happens when we allow ourselves to cross boundaries.”

Lydia Zhang, a third-year student majoring in English from the Chinese Mainland, was placed at an online travel service platform in the Chinese Mainland. She commented: “As an English major, despite my love for English, I did not want to become a teacher or an academic researcher. Co-op@CUHK supported me in entering the marketing industry, and I was surprised to learn that my English language skills are highly valuable in a professional setting. This experience has given me a much more optimistic outlook on my future career path.”

Jake Maynard, a fourth-year student in the Integrated BBA programme, was placed at the HKSTP. He shared: “Within six months, I gained so many hands-on experiences managing events, tackling both frontend and backend tasks, and made friends with interns from all across the world with HKSTP global internship programme – something I never imagined before working at HKSTP.”

About Co-op@CUHK

Co-op@CUHK is Hong Kong’s first university-industry co-operative education programme, open to CUHK undergraduates in their second year or above. Students joining the programme take part in preparatory courses before being matched with employers for full-time, full-pay, and full-credit work placements of six to eight months. In addition to fostering professional competencies and career readiness through extended work placement opportunities, Co-op@CUHK is a conduit for corporations to identify promising talent. At the same time, it enables CUHK to better collaborate with employers and provides students with the skills and knowledge society needs. Since its inception in 2021, Co-op@CUHK has garnered extensive support from corporate and industry partners, as well as students and other members of the University.

For more details, please visit: https://coop.cuhk.edu.hk.