| Chapter 12 | Student Exchange Opportunities |
12.1 Overview
Exchange programmes provide students with the chance to benefit from studying in a different academic and cultural setting: to raise their foreign language proficiency, to experience living in a different country and culture, to develop skills which allow personal growth, and to build diverse friendships and interpersonal networks, while completing academic requirements for graduation.
12.2 Undergraduate Exchange Opportunities
Ug students may participate in term-time exchange programmes that last for either one term or a full academic year. Students need to meet minimum academic requirements (Appendix 12-1) in order to participate in exchange programmes.
Ug students may also participate in virtual exchange opportunities which vary in duration and academic load under the Global Online Academic Learning (GOAL) Programmes coordinated by the OAL. Available programmes may change from time to time (Appendix 12-2).
Students on exchange may apply for credit transfer through CUSIS. Academic transcripts received from exchange institutions are automatically transferred from the OAL to the Registry for record and consideration for credit transfer.
Ug students may also take part in summer exchange programmes and summer schools coordinated by the OAL (Appendix 12-3) and the CEO (Appendix 12-4), student interflow programmes (Appendix 12-5) as well as short-term non-local learning programmes coordinated by individual Colleges/ Departments/ programmes/ Units.
Ug students may apply for financial support through the CUHK Student Exchange Financial Aid and Scholarship Scheme to participate in eligible term-time student exchange and summer/ short-term exchange programmes (Appendix 12-6).
To encourage students on exchange to put in necessary effort in their academic studies during exchange, the Senate has approved that the University will record on transcripts students’ participation in the respective term-time exchange programme(s), and users of transcripts are reminded to obtain from students the transcripts issued from the exchange partner institutions concerned.
12.3 Support for Incoming Students
Students from partner institutions may participate in term-time exchange programmes that last for either one term or a full academic year, or summer exchange programmes at CUHK. Students need to meet minimum academic requirements (Appendix 12-7) in order to participate in exchange programmes at CUHK.
OAL provides support for incoming exchange students. Major services include
- preparing students for their experience in CUHK and Hong Kong, including application for student visas;
- providing advice and support on
- – course selection and registration;
- – living in CUHK and Hong Kong, including placement of on-campus accommodation;
- – understanding of and immersion in Hong Kong culture and society;
- – personal well-being, health and safety;
- – extension of study period;
- – exit procedures and pre-departure clearance; and
- – issuance of certifying letters and transcripts; and
- providing pastoral care to students and offering assistance to those who require special attention (e.g. hospitalization).
12.4 Graduate Exchange Opportunities
12.4.1 Taught Postgraduate Opportunities
TPg students may participate in term-time exchange programmes that last for either one term or a full academic year. Students need to meet minimum academic requirements in order to participate in exchange programmes.
Students on exchange may apply for credit transfer through CUSIS. Academic transcripts received from exchange institutions are automatically transferred from the OAL or the Divisions concerned to the Graduate School Office for record and consideration for credit transfer.
To encourage students on exchange to put in necessary effort in their academic studies during exchange, the Senate has approved that the University will record on transcripts students’ participation in the respective term-time exchange programme(s), and users of transcripts are reminded to obtain from students the transcripts issued from the exchange partner institutions concerned.
12.4.2 Research Postgraduate Opportunities
Exchange opportunities are available for RPg students. For example, there are PhD Student Exchange Programmes run by the OAL and individual RPg/ PhD student exchange programmes run by the Divisions concerned. These programmes enable RPg students to undertake research projects at a partner institution for a period of up to 12 months and welcome visiting students in return. Financial support is provided to students by some of these programmes. The programme guidelines of the PhD Student Exchange Programme are listed in Appendix 12-8.
PhD students may also participate in joint PhD supervision/ training programmes run by the Divisions concerned. These programmes enable PhD students to undertake research training/ projects at a partner institution for an extended period of time under the supervision of a co-supervisor.
12.5 Monitoring Quality
OAL monitors the quality of its exchange programmes regularly. It organizes sharing sessions for students participating in exchange programmes, administers student surveys and is also responsible for following up feedback from students and partner institutions. The Committee on Student Exchange (Appendix 12-9) advises the overall management and quality of student exchange activities. The Monitoring System for Collaborative Teaching Programmes/ Arrangements (Appendix 12-10) monitors the performance of collaborative teaching programmes, with focus on the bilateral student movement. The Departments/ programmes concerned are required to provide biennial reports on their collaborative teaching programmes.