Set sail for new horizons in the rainbow nation

Bridget makes new friends from around the world during her exchange in South Africa.

South Africa is known as the rainbow nation as its cultures, languages and ethnic compositions are exceptionally diverse and dynamic. Bridget Cheung, a Year 4 Information Engineering student, had a fruitful exchange experience during the first semester at Stellenbosch University (Stellenbosch).

Bridget had a taste of the differences between Hong Kong and South Africa during her exchange at Stellenbosch. For example, she noticed that load shedding is common in town which lasts for a few hours or even longer, and students always rush to the student centres where generators are available during the blackouts. To her amusement, free wine-tasting is organised by the Wine Society every Tuesday as Stellenbosch is situated in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Stellenbosch even has a department of viticulture and oenology offering training and research in grape and wine sciences. Bridget felt grateful for having the opportunity to go on exchange and make connections with people from around the world. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience especially during the pandemic.

Bridget is grateful for having the opportunity to go on exchange.

The application for outgoing exchange programmes offered by the Office of Academic Links opens annually in October. This year, with the support of the incoming exchange students and exchange returnees, a series of on-campus outreach programmes were held to promote outgoing exchange opportunities.

An incoming exchange student introduces his home institution to local students.