Everyone knows that Hong Kong is great for finance, but the local government is starting a push into new territory. Students on the MBA at CUHK Business School are all set to benefit
Hong Kong is not a world-famous city for nothing.Since being known chiefly as a fishing port in the early part of the 20th century, the city has grown into a heaving metropolis, largely on the back of its four key industries: financial services, trading and logistics, tourism, and professional services.
These already offer plenty of opportunities for MBA grads in the region—but they’re not the only ones that students should be looking out for.
In recent years the Hong Kong government has been driving investment in six new growth industries—including, but not limited to, medical services, wine trading, green business, and innovation and technology.
Green business and innovation and technology, in particular, are key sites of business growth the world over, and for MBA students at Hong Kong’s , opportunities to make a mark are rife.
Green business
Hong Kong is a mass of contradictions when it comes to the environment. While only a fraction of the city’s buildings are eco-friendly, more than 75% of land in the territory has been left in its natural state, due to either being undevelopable or protected green space.
This fraught relationship to sustainability is set to even out as the Hong Kong government implements its plans to drive growth in green business.
Plans include bringing the environmental sector into the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) with the mainland, which gives green businesses based in Hong Kong the ability to penetrate deeper into the Chinese market.
This could mean growth in the number of Hong Kong-based green businesses over the next few years, particularly as the city also hosts Eco Expo Asia each fall, giving the stage to sustainability-focused companies from around the world.
CUHK Business School itself runs a sustainability conference each year, inviting expert speakers to educate students on the benefits of corporate social responsibility (CSR).
The roster for 2019 included speakers from big corporations like H&M and BASF, as well as business school leaders and representatives of bodies such as the Hong Kong Green Finance Association.
Sustainable business also sits at the heart of the MBA’s entrepreneurship and innovation concentration.
Students on the course get to work in teams on real business propositions, which they then present to social impact investors and practitioners in the sustainable business arena.
The MBA program won a certificate of appreciation from the Global Green Economic Forum at the Women Eco Game Changer Awards this year, testament to its place within the sustainable business landscape in Hong Kong.
Innovation and technology
It is hard to have any conversation about long-term sustainability without mentioning technology. While close neighbor Shenzhen is often the name on commentators’ lips when they mention tech in Asia, Hong Kong should not be underestimated.
The government’s initiatives have overseen the creation of tech communities focused on innovation, such as Hong Kong Cyberport—a creative digital community that is home to over 100 ICT and digital content companies and which includes centers for collaboration, technology, knowledge sharing, and entrepreneurship.
In addition, a $640 million innovation and technology fund provided by the government makes sure that launching a disruptive tech venture is not just a pipe dream for MBAs in the city.
As well as benefiting from proximity to these activities, CUHK MBAs who are interested in technology can match with theory what they see in practice.
The school offers a finance and technology concentration that gives students a rigorous grounding in tech and its connections to the Hong Kong financial powerhouse—from a FinTech 101 course that takes them through the basics, to corporate fundraising training and education about the applications of AI and machine learning.
CUHK also offers a business practicum in the subject, challenging students with a real-life business issue that they are then sponsored to solve by a corporation in the city, as well as playing host to student-led events such as the Women in Technology and Entrepreneurship lecture series organized by the Women in Business Club.
The results of this dynamic learning environment are tangible for CUHK MBA students, more than 10% of whom are employed in the tech sector after graduating.
With global innovation increasingly facing East, staking out a career in Asia is a prudent choice for any future business leader—getting a foothold in growth industries like green business and tech could be the way to do it.
Student Reviews
One of a kind
I studied Bioinformatics at CUHK last year. It was the only Master's degree in Hong Kong in this field. This program developed my analytical skills and equipped me to be a Bioinformatician in a very practical way.
I enjoyed my year here and met classmates from different parts of the world. If you are thinking to enhance your profile, this degree program would be a good option.
general education courses, unique college system, large campus
The university facilitates multi-dimension and interdisciplinary learning. In social science faculty, we need to choose courses as our faculty package from other departments (architecture, psychology, sociology, etc.) to learn more than our major required courses. We are also required to finish general education courses, which aid our critical thinking and humanistic sensibilities. I do recommend the social science broad-based program, and the professors I met so far are all responsible and erudite.
LLM
The faculty of law is relatively new. You do not need to have a LLB to pursue a LLM, which is special. The taught programme is great for mature students who want to obtain legal knowledge.
CUHK has good teaching staff too.
Amazing Campus and Great Educational Environment
Not only is CUHK's main campus breathtaking, it provides for a good educational environment for students. The university is well-equipped with modern and up-to-date facilities to help students with their study. We have 8 libraries in total around the campus; one for media, one for architectural studies, the medical library and the law library. The Professors are always helpful and are happy to talk to students when needed.
Moreover, the college system within the university brings forth the uniqueness of CUHK. Each student belongs to a different college, and in that students are able to meet different peoples from different countries and students from different faculties.
I think CUHK provides for a well-rounded university life for all students.
exthrillating
One of the most down to earth places in HK. A great opportunity to learn and embody the local culture. Also had one the most beautiful campus in Hong Kong up on the hillside. Glad to have graduated here.
Innovative and Supportive
My university provided me with all the support I needed, and encouraged me to be up to date with all the new developments in the world. They also provided me with the incentive to excel at what I do, and they take much pride in my achievements. I have had a very rewarding university experience.
Small, New But Friendly Law School
To being with, I think the campus of CUHK is the best and the biggest in Hong Kong, with fresh air and trees everywhere.
I am an undergraduate Law student at CUHK and I think the teaching here is great, with very friendly and nice professors and the new Lee Shau Kee Building.
In terms of the courses offered by CUHK, as one of the largest universities in Hong Kong, CUHK is an all-rounded university, offering a wide range of courses to students. Students may take the introductory courses of discipline other than their own major, or even declare a minor.
For law electives, due to the small amount of intake, the variety of law electives are not that huge. However, the Faculty is offering some international programmes, which can be treated as law electives, but at the same time, provide us with an opportunity to travel and know more about the legal system of another country.
The career support from the Faculty of Law is also amazing. The Faculty will organise CV Sessions and talks on how to get an internship from law firms or mini-pupillage from barrister's chambers. Each student will also have a Distinguished Professional Mentor, which is a current legal profession, providing us with practical advices and updates of the legal field.
Finally, from my personal experience, I think the students in CUHK are friendly and genuine. As Law students, competition is inevitable for grades, GPAs, vacation schemes and training contract. However, I think the competition in CUHK Law School is a positive one, in a sense that help us grow together, instead of fighting with each other no matter what. That is the biggest reason why I am having a very good time here in CUHK Law School.
A place to explore your interests
As a law graduate from CUHK (both undergrad and post-grad), I realise that I had many opportunities to explore my areas of interests (legal and non-legal both). The faculty/university requires us to take a certain number of non-law electives, and offers a plethora of courses to choose from. Personally, I took 3 modules in Korean --I can't say it's made me highly proficient, but it's definitely given me a good foundation (I can walk into a Korean restaurant and confidently order food, at the very least). The fact that language courses are offered also provides students who are more financially constrained an opportunity to learn a language without having to shell out a premium for a decent language course. On top of that, we have a range of law electives as well. I know of classmates who have developed lasting interest in different areas of law because of the electives they took in school. The two electives that I would say have changed me is (i) mooting and (ii) family law. I think my experience in an international commercial arbitration moot competition has helped tremendously in formulating legal arguments and legal writing. On the other hand, taking a family law elective has made me very interested in the family law practice, especially in terms of child rights. For these experiences which I have gained, I'm grateful for the opportunities provided by the school.
One main issue most students I know have is with the way our GPA is calculated and the lack of transparency in terms of how the honours system works. As our GPA is marked on a curve. it's highly unrepresentative of what we have achieved as individuals. Given that our GPA is the only criteria that is looked at when we apply for the compulsory post-graduate law course (mandatory should we want to practise law and/or be trainees in Hong Kong), it will put our own students at a distinct disadvantage when we compete for limited spaces with students from schools where GPA is not on a bell curve.
Valuable time in CUHK
I like the learning environment and people at CUHK. Surrounded by hills and Tolo Harbour, CUHK provides a balance between nature and hustle. You can always escape from the busy study life and meet your friend around the big campus for different activities.
