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To mark the occasion of the fifth anniversary of its Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) in Hong Kong, President of the University of British Columbia (UBC), Professor Stephen Toope, today (December 14) announced special entrance scholarships of CAD$5,000 each to five incoming students from Hong Kong for studies beginning September 2011.
As Hong Kong hosts the largest base of UBC alumni outside Canada, UBC's APRO was established in 2005 to build on existing connections between Vancouver and Hong Kong. With Hong Kong's strategic location and excellent transport links within Asia Pacific, a regional office is warranted to support research and academic programmes, engage alumni and drive student recruitment and development opportunities in the region.
In the five years since APRO was established, UBC has achieved wider engagement with alumni across Asia, opening chapters in Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai. Further collaboration between The University of Hong Kong and UBC has resulted in a joint legal education programme and the opening of Simon K Y Lee HKU-UBC House on the Vancouver campus. UBC's Go Global Exchange programme has also expanded with new opportunities for students wanting to study and do research overseas, particularly in Asia Pacific.
Professor Toope said, "As UBC works towards stronger international engagement, I am delighted we are celebrating the university's presence in expanding ties to the Asia-Pacific region. APRO has helped build and enhance partnerships throughout Asia while serving its students and alumni."
UBC is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Department of Asian Studies and the 10th anniversary of its UBC International MBA (IMBA) degree programme, offered in cooperation with Shanghai Jiao Tong University. There are now more than 200 alumni and current students of the IMBA programme.
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr Andrew Davis, said, "We are glad to see the continued growth of UBC's regional office in Hong Kong. It offers not only the opportunity to further strengthen UBC's connection with Asia but also continued advancement in education and research collaboration with universities in Hong Kong and regionally."
About UBC
UBC is one of Canada's largest and most prestigious public research and teaching institutions, and one of only two Canadian institutions to be consistently ranked among the world's 40 best universities. Surrounded by the beauty of the Canadian West, it is a place that inspires bold, new ways of thinking that have helped make it a national leader in areas as diverse as community service learning, sustainability and research commercialisation. UBC attracts CAD$550 million per year in research funding from government, non-profit organisations and industry through 7,000 grants. For more information, visit: www.ubc.ca or www.ubcapro.hk.
About Invest Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government established in July 2000 to take responsibility for Foreign Direct Investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services to help businesses succeed in Hong Kong's vibrant economy. As it celebrates its 10th anniversary, Invest Hong Kong has completed over 2,100 investment projects creating over 26,000 new jobs in the first year of operation or expansion and HK$56 billion of investment. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Issued at HKT 17:50
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