Hong Kong visit marks restart of short international programmes

The group crammed study and scenic spots into a two-week trip designed to expose them to Kiwi culture as well as improve their language skills.

It was the first time a group from Hong Kong Metropolitan University had made the trip.

The initiative eventuated through a new partnership with Lincoln, but the students were following in the footsteps of Chinese and Japanese groups who regularly studied at the university before the pandemic.

Joining in with other international students who are studying for longer English language courses, the group benefited from a diverse classroom that accelerated their learning.

As well as focusing on the supply chain that illustrates how products get to market, they also learned about food marketing, sustainability, landscape architecture and New Zealand wines, all areas of specialisation for Lincoln.

"Bringing groups such as the one from Hong Kong Metropolitan University is a significant step for USEL, Lincoln University, and the Canterbury region as we begin to recover and rebuild post-COVID,"  Academic & Growth Strategies Manager, University Studies & English Language (USEL) Division, Daryl Streat said.

"The students who visited our campus were an amazing group of scholars and leaders, whose positive experiences of our campus and staff will benefit the reputation of the university."

The group lived with home-stay families to experience local culture and contributed to the recovering New Zealand tourism sector by travelling extensively around Christchurch and Canterbury attractions, such as the Antarctic Centre. 

Director, International, Roger Shew said it was exciting to host the first group of students from Hong Kong.

"We aim to deepen our relationship with Hong Kong Metropolitan University and look forward to further collaborative activities with them."