Representative of Lady Ho Tung Hall Students' Association 何東夫人紀念堂宿生會代表 Tso Kwan Yi 曹筠兒

The University of Hong Kong admitted the first cohort of non-local students in 1999, since then the

ratio of non-local students to local students kept rising. The idea of admitting non-local students is

mutually beneficial and is much appreciated. However, is it really what’s happening in HKU?



In terms of international outlook, more non-local students do not guarantee better international

reputation of the University. Times Higher Education Ranks HKU in a very low place in terms of

international reputation, and the ranking is decreasing over the years while the intake of non-local

students is expanding. More attention should be paid on where these non-local students are from,

instead of emphasizing on the number.



In HKU, half of the non-local students are from the same country – Mainland. In fact, non-local

students can act as a bridge connecting the University and other parts of the world. The more places

students are from, the more recognition the University gains round the world. The fact that most of

the non-local students are from the same country narrows down the openness of the University, and

limits the outreach of both local and non-local students. It is unwise for the University to limit

herself when she has the ability to go further. Not only it doesn't help in internationalization of the

University, it is adding burden to it.



Besides, non-local students can help broaden the horizon of local students, and enrich their thinking

perspectives. Through interacting with non-local students, local students are given a chance to know

more about other cultures and traditions. This may contribute to improving their communication

skills and giving confidence to others that our graduates can work well with people of different

backgrounds. However, under the current situation, there is not enough supporting policy for local

and non-local students to interact and have cultural exchange. The fact that local and non-local

students are studying under the same environment, their community is still separated, is undeniable.



Moreover, it is known that the University would set a preferred number of non-local students they

want to admit before actually admitting students every year but it is becoming a usual practice for

the University to admit non-local students exceeding the preferred number. This practice should be

eliminated as it deeply affects the proportion of local and non-local students in the long run.



In a nutshell the preferred proportion of non-local and local students by school is acceptable but it is

very essential for the University to follow what’s planned, and implement more supporting policy for

cultural exchange between students. Considering the original rationale of recruiting non-local

students - to strengthen HKU’s international outlook and broaden students’ horizon, a more

proportionate non-local student population from a wider variety of countries will be undoubtedly be

more satisfactory and considerable.