The International Weeks was opened today (24 March) by PolyU President Professor Timothy W. Tong and Vice President (International and Executive Education) Professor Judy Tsui together with 25 senior representatives of the Consulate-Generals in Hong Kong from 21 countries.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Tong said, "At PolyU, we are aware of the need to expose our students to the international dimensions of the new global era. Internationalization is a way forward to sharpen the competitive edge we already have, and an opportunity to charge ahead as a University for the future…As we gather here to appreciate cultural diversity and celebrate the international mix at PolyU, we also remember the tragic times Japan is going through. To express our condolences and support for the Japanese people, our staff and students of the Faculty of Humanities are dedicating one of the events in the International Weeks to them. I hope you and the whole PolyU community will find time to join and show your support."
Professor Judy Tsui added that PolyU has made concerted efforts to promote internationalization. The University has set up a high-level International Advisory Board with the support of 19 distinguished personalities since 2010. It also runs the Global Student Challenge for students from all over the world to compete in innovation, leadership, entrepreneurship via business proposals and to interact with PolyU students to enhance their creative and innovative spirits.
The International Weeks will be filled with a dazzling and varied range of dance, music and theatre performances, seminars, workshops and cultural trails. An International Film Series featuring movies jointly presented and supported by 11 Consulate-Generals in Hong Kong will be organized over the course of the International Weeks.
PolyU academics, staff and students have actively participated in organizing the associated events. These include a theatre performance of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross presented by a cast of local and international students from the Department of English; a talk by eco-tourism expert Dr Thomas Bauer on his "Voyages to Antarctica"; fun-filled campus hunts presented by different faculties and schools; presentation and dialogues with Consul Generals of Finland, Indonesia and Mexico; ice hockey for fun; learning Turkish; calligraphy on T-shirts; and German and Austrian nights.
AIESEC in PolyU, a branch of the world’s largest youth-run organization, will run a week-long special event for students to experience foreign culture on the campus. The School of Hotel and Tourism Management will also hold a class in the Vinoteca Lab of its new premises for staff and students to sample wines from around the world.
The International Weeks will see its Grand Finale on 31 March (Thursday) with a medley of pop songs in different languages, Flamenco dance and an ethnic costume parade at the Amphitheatre outside the Jockey Club Auditorium on the university campus.
The supporting organizations for the International Weeks are listed as follows:
Consulate-Generals and Chambers of Commerce in Hong Kong
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
Consulate General of Finland in Hong Kong & Macao
Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macao
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Hong Kong
Consulate General of Greece in Hong Kong
Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia
Consulate General of Israel
Consulate General of Italy
Consulate General of Mexico
New Zealand Consulate-General
Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines
Consulate General of Romania in Hong Kong SAR & Macao SAR
South African Consulate-General, HKSAR/MSAR
Consulate General of Turkey in Hong Kong
Consulate General of the United States
Education and Cultural Organizations
Anatolia Cultural and Dialog Center
British Council Hong Kong
Confucius Institute of Hong Kong
Goethe-Institut Hongkong
Other Organizations
Aurora Production
FINDS Group Limited
Hong Kong Amateur Hockey Club
Hong Kong Productivity Council
Institut Français
The New Zealand Film Commission
Theatre Noir
