EssayPostgraduate Study in Hong Kong Universities.docx

1、EssayPostgraduate Study in Hong Kong UniversitiesPostgraduate Study in Hong Kong UniversitiesName: Candy ZhangStudent Number: 2010*Professor ZhangOutline IntroductionA. The reasons for studying this topicB. Current situation Body A. Reasons for pursuing postgraduate study in Hong Kong 1. A regional

2、hub for academic endeavors 2. Special provision in its immigration ordinance 3. Lower cost of studying and living 4. A heady mixture of Eastern and Western influences 5. Tremendous career opportunities 6. A friendly destination in terms of quick adaptation B. Two representative universities in Hong

3、Kong 1. The University of Hong Kong 2. The Chinese Universities of Hong Kong C. Two main types of postgraduate programmes in Hong Kong 1. Research Postgraduate Programme 2. Taught Postgraduate Programme 3. Comparison between the two types of postgraduate programmes D. Criticism from Hong Kong academ

4、ics 1. Comments on the criticism 2. Suggestions for Hong Kong universities ConclusionPostgraduate Study in Hong Kong UniversitiesIntroductionWhy is Hong Kong a good place for Chinese graduates to get further study? What are the advantages of Hong Kong universities? How to apply an appropriate univer

5、sity for postgraduate study? All these questions are remained in junior and senior college students minds if they plan to study abroad after graduates. In China, graduates usually have three choices: passing the postgraduate qualifying examination to get further study in mainland of China, finding j

6、obs or studying abroad (includes the special administrative regions). As Hong Kongs economy and employment system have steadily developed and improved in recent years, adding that the local government has created policies to encourage talented people studying and working there, Chinese mainland coll

7、ege graduates have shown increasing preference for Hong Kong universities. This article focuses on the graduates from mainland of China and aims at finding out deep reasons for graduates pursuing further study in Hong Kong and leading students to make proper choices when they apply for the universit

8、ies in Hong Kong. In addition, basing on the current problems, this article also promotes some suggestions for Hong Kong universities.Reasons for Pursuing Postgraduate Study in Hong KongComparing with other destinations such as the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, what the advantages

9、 do Hong Kong universities have?First, Hong Kong is a regional hub for academic endeavors. Hong Kong is home to eight government-funded universities offering dozens of major areas of study. According to the 2012 QS World University Rankings, there are six Hong Kong universities in the list of the to

10、p 300 universities in the world, and four of them are in the top 100. The performance in the rankings is a clear sigh of Hong Kongs strength in higher education. Besides, a number of scholarships are available to assist non-local students to finance their education in Hong Kong, and the awards are o

11、pen to all non-local students on a competitive basis.Second, Hong Kong government has made special provision in its immigration ordinance, granting one year extension to mainland students after graduation, with the purpose of attracting talent to the region. Thus, once mainland students graduate fro

12、m Hong Kong universities, they have one year to find jobs and work there. The government has also simplified the application process for working visas for mainland graduates. Surveys among universities in Hong Kong reveal that more than half of graduating mainland students stayed in Hong Kong to wor

13、k in the past three years.Third, the cost of studying in Hong Kong is much less than the cost in European countries or North America. Tuition varies from course to course, but it can be generally expected between 70,000 yuan and 120,000 yuan per year. For those families who consider that funding is

14、a serious issue, the cost of education in Hong Kong will be a potential investment that can be profitable over long years.Fourth, as an international financial centre, there are a large number of multinational commercial institutions and operations in Hong Kong. It is also a most important trading h

15、ub between the mainland of China and the rest of the world. Attending a Hong Kong university for postgraduate study enables students to establish a social network in Hong Kong so that students can prepare themselves for career and business opportunities there.Fifth, one of the major draws of Hong Ko

16、ng, aside from its strength in education, is the excellent mixture of Eastern and Western influences. The latter comes from the years when it was a part of British colony. Next to the skyscrapers which symbolize the city, there are ancient Chinese architecture and colonial-era relics. People from di

17、fferent countries come to Hong Kong to study, to work and to live. The city is a melting pot of different nationalities and culture. Therefore, Hong Kong is a good place for students to learn different culture and have a better understanding of the whole world.Last, for students from mainland, Hong

18、Kong is a friendly destination in terms of quick adaptation, because the social environment is close to that of mainland students hometowns. It is not hard for students to get familiar with the living habits and traditional customs. Except for the easy adaptation, life can be interesting and wonderf

19、ul for the region consists of a rich mix of Asian and Western influences as the above mentioned.Representative Universities in Hong KongAmong the eight government-founded universities, the University of Hong Kong (UHK) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) are the best ones. On the 2012 QS

20、World Universities Ranking list, according to the quality standards from different aspects: Academic Reputation, Employer Reputation, Faculty-Student Ratio, International Faculty, International Students and Citations per Faculty, UHK is ranking 23rd, which is the territorys oldest institute of highe

21、r learning, and CUHK is ranking 40th. Both of them are ahead of Peking University and Tsinghua University. In UHK, there are Best Economics, Best Law and Best Social Sciences and so on. As for CUHK, it has Best Anthropology & Humanities, Best Business Administration, Best Chinese Language and Litera

22、ture, Best English, Best Public & Government Administration and Best Philosophy & Religious Studies and so on. As the best choices for graduates, the universities are looking foreword to build comprehensive research universities with a global vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity

23、and to bring together China and the West. Two main types of postgraduate programmes in Hong KongResearch Postgraduate Programme and Taught Postgraduate Programme are the two main types of postgraduate programmes in Hong Kong. Its not proper to say which one is better than the other one for they have

24、 distinctly different teaching goals. Research Postgraduate Programme mainly focuses on research work and is a preparation for doctoral studies. This kind of programme provides students with training in research methodologies in a specific discipline and students are substantially involved in resear

25、ch project. Hence, it requires applicants have a good academic background and preferably sound research experience. In contrast, Taught Postgraduate Programme mainly focuses on practical coursework and is a preparation for career. Accordingly, it provides students with opportunities to learn vocatio

26、nal skills and become more comprehensive. Of course, programmes structures and assessment methods vary across different areas of study. Therefore, graduates who want to apply for Hong Kong universities should consider their career goals and study plans to identify a most suitable approach for furthe

27、r studies.Criticism from Hong Kong AcademicsThe University Grants Committee published a report on Sept 23, 2012, stating that 83 percent of the 10,770 non-local students studying in Hong Kong universities are from the mainland, 12.5 percent from other parts of Asia and only 4.5 percent from the rest

28、 of the world. Several academics criticize the predominance of mainland students who are pursuing academic qualification in local universities, asserting that it would not help local universities to climb the world ranking ladder, for only students outside Hong Kong and the mainland are counted as i

29、nternational students, the percentage of which is an evaluation criteria in the global universities ranking list. They argue that the existing percentage of mainland students among non-local students is out of proportion. Furthermore, they suggest universities enhance their efforts to make local cam

30、puses truly international and culturally diverse.Contrary to those academics, there is nothing wrong with the local universities accepting as many as possible students that come from the mainland of China. Imaging the fierce competition mainland students are facing in fighting for a place in Hong Ko

31、ng universities, and only the cream of the crop can get a chance. These students are intelligent and industrious in their studies, as most teachers can testify, setting good examples for other students. Whats more, after graduation, many mainland students choose to work in Hong Kong, contributing to

32、 the local economic prosperity, whereas many other overseas students choose to return to their native lands to work once they finish their studies in Hong Kong.In order to turn Hong Kong into an international education hub, the local universities can boost the exchange-student scheme to attract more foreign students to come to spend a year or more in Hong Kong universities. Because, in fact, why should American and British students choose one from Hong Kong universities instead of choosing one from the hundreds of high quality universities in own countries? Most of them c