My Exchange Experience in Switzerland
- 2021
- Alumni/Student Sharing
- Faculty of Humanities
Bernard Lau Chak Man, Year 5 Student of BEd(HIST) (2020/21), 2019/20 Recipient of the HKSAR Government Scholarship Reaching Out Award
In 2019/20, I was glad to receive the HKSAR Government Scholarship Reaching Out Award and joined the overseas exchange programme. I had chosen Zug for my exchange study because Hong Kong and Zug, representing its country of Switzerland, have quite a lot in common. I found that Zug was renowned as one of the most international cities, as a hotspot for foreign firms to set up shops. There must be some qualities so fascinating that would make people from all over the world drop their dime in here, like in Hong Kong, a global trading and financial hub. I would like to find out what those qualities are.
University of Teaching Education (PH Zug) collaborated with Zurich University of Teaching Education (PH Zurich) to organise a course for us as international students to learn more about the culture and society of Switzerland through lectures, group projects and excursions to major cities and sites in the country. I got to visit famous cities like Zurich, Bern and Geneva and made friends with many students from other parts of Europe. Not only has my personal network been expanded, but also my knowledge and experience in Swiss culture and society got broadened as well. Surprisingly, our professor Sabina also taught history, and when she knew I was the only history student in our class, she invited me to her major course to present to her students the history of Hong Kong. We had a great conversation there, as they became more intrigued about our future and our way of life. Since I was preparing for a history essay for the next semester, I decided to write about Swiss history. The students there generously helped me, as they sent me relevant research articles in emails, along with some pointers and advice on how to begin my discussion on some important issues in their national history. Without the help from Sabina and her students, my essay would not have got an A-grade! I am very thankful for their help.
I thank all my teachers, classmates, Ms Priska and my friends at PH Zug and PH Zurich for including me and helping me out in every way. I miss Switzerland very much!
Bernard Lau Chak Man, and friends Polly and Ms Priska (from left) chilling together in a restaurant.
Giving a presentation about the history of Hong Kong at the University of Teacher Education Zug.
