CUHK is a life changer – find out why Korean students are all talking about it
Why did these Korean students choose CUHK for their MBAs over other universities? We sat down with some of them to find out the answers to this question.
Although these students share the same historical roots, they come from diverse backgrounds and industries. As they seek to move onwards and upwards, the students will naturally choose a place that is notable for the cross-over of different markets and talents. A place that can help actualise their startup dreams and create value for a better world.
Hong Kong provides the right hardware that these international students are craving. It is a city full of potential, especially for start-ups and entrepreneurs, with plenty of opportunities for real-life projects and experiences. When piecing everything together, CUHK’s MBA programme was the most suitable fit for them.
Entrepreneurship extremely popular for students
“CUHK MBA is the first programme in Asia that comes with an entrepreneurship concentration,” explained Youngwoo Song, a research scientist from the Korea Institute of Science & Technology.
The entrepreneurship curriculum at CUHK MBA is a perfect fusion of wisdom and forward-thinking. It combines classroom learning with a great emphasis on experiential learning and practical exposure.
Experiential learning through business field trips and company visits give students functioning examples of real entrepreneurship. Through the visit to Silicon Valley in the US, a melting pot for successful ventures like Google, Facebook and Airbnb, students not only learn about startups but also witness the ‘dos and don’ts’ when launching.
Soyeon Lee, a Senior Marketing Manager at Philips prior to her MBA, recalls the impressive study trip to the US last October. “Visits to companies in The Silicon Valley were eye-opening. People were on hand to answer questions about the journey of a start-up – from the very moment, one decides to set up a business, to the stage where the venture begins to operate. Opportunities were also there to examine real-life cases of both successful and failing businesses.”
Her views were echoed by Youngwoo, who enthusiastically describes a study trip to Berlin, Germany, that concluded in June. “The trip to Berlin gave me a great deal of exposure to how companies are run in this number one economic powerhouse in Europe and insights on Industry 4.0.”
Finance courses see red hot demand
As a major international financial hub, Hong Kong always needs fresh talent in the finance, investment and strategic management sectors. The well-structured MBA curriculum caters for this demand and has been another key factor in the decisions. The finance courses readily prepare MBA students to succeed in this area.
Courses taught by seasoned professors such as Professor Ling Cen’s “Mergers & Acquisitions” and Professor Thomas Bain’s “Current Topics in Finance – Fixed Income & Securities Analysis” are especially appealing. “Demanding though, these courses help us to work out what’s happening in the financial world, with a perfect balance between academic and practical training,” explains Min Kim, a specialist at Lion Corporation, Korea, pre-MBA.
Hong Kong is the place to be
“Hong Kong is the best place to target the China market,” said Kenneth Lee, who previously worked as a Senior Manager in eCommerce at Lotte Shipping Company, before commencing on his MBA journey.
Hong Kong is a major gateway to China that offers indispensable pre-requisites to people who want to achieve career success within the country. An MBA in Hong Kong greatly enhances employability in the job market here and in China. However, given the country’s vast geographical regions, it is imperative to learn and understand what the most relevant and valuable information is, as well as who are the right people to associate with. The city serves this purpose well and plays a strategic position in the Belt and Road initiative. Under this initiative, a huge array of infrastructure has been generated and immense business opportunities are in place for a variety of professionals.
It is fair to say that the students have been blown away by China’s rapid development. The Shenzhen Tech Day event, organised by the Career Management Centre, was an awesome opportunity to obtain first-hand information about China’s fast-growing IT sector.
Alumni network provides unparalleled opportunities
In addition to this, many students admire CUHK’s strong alumni network and a proud history. “CUHK MBA, launched some 50 years ago, is the first of its kind in Hong Kong and even in Asia,” added Youngwoo. They are really happy with the opportunities to connect with course mates from around the world. “Hong Kong is well known for its diversity. So is our campus!” “The interactions and discussions between students and teachers are the most inspiring,” added Min Kim.
The Korean students are optimistic about their career prospects after graduation, as the MBA Programme not only equips them with core skills and knowledge to excel but also heightens their cultural sensitivity and awareness, which is of critical importance in the era of globalisation.