Four University students will spend next semester in China as part of the E.J. Ourso College of Business’s new study abroad program at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
International trade and finance juniors Lauren Johnson and John Preston, ISDS junior Leah Wong and economics sophomore Michael Panther Mayen were selected to participate in the program after an application and interview process.
The program, the first of its kind within the College of Business, focuses on undergraduate students and a semester-long curriculum that concentrates mainly on business courses, said Ashley Junek, assistant dean for undergraduate programs in the business college.
The students will receive a scholarship to help with expenses, and Dean Richard White will visit Hong Kong during the semester to ensure a smooth transition for the students, Junek said.
White paired his extensive background of world traveling with a mission to immerse students in another culture when he made the decision to team up with PolyU for the program.
Hong Kong was the most logical choice, White said, considering the emerging markets and rich cultural diversity in the area, which will be an easier transition because of the wide array of English speakers in the area.
PolyU’s business school received an International accreditation from The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business in 2010, which also aided White’s decision.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” he said. “It’s going to change their lives.”
The allure of living in Asia attracted Preston to apply for the program, and he said he chose the PolyU program over another school in China as a result of the area’s business environment.
Wong agreed living in Hong Kong is an excellent opportunity but was attracted because of a heritage she shares with the region.
“My grandfather was from Hong Kong, and I never met him,” she said. “I want to explore my heritage.”
This won’t be Johnson’s first time studying abroad, as she lived in France for a summer. She is looking forward to the experience and hopes to remain in the region by obtaining an internship for the remainder of the summer, she said.
As an economics major, Mayen said he is interested in exploring the different aspects of Hong Kong’s emerging economy.
Part of the plan for the exchange program involves students from PolyU attending the University, Junek said, and the College of Business plans to continue the program in the future.
White said he advised the students to network as much as possible and come back to Louisiana with a new understanding of the world and different cultures to share with the University community.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity. It’s going to change their lives.”