The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) hosted a booth at the BeSt Education Fair in Vienna, Austria, from March 7 to 10 (Vienna time) to inform visitors about the exciting study opportunities that Hong Kong has to offer. The fair was jointly organised by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research and the Austrian Public Employment Service, with around 75 000 participants from Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and the Slovak Republic expected to attend. The Director of HKETO Berlin, Mr Bill Li, gave a presentation on March 9 (Vienna time) about the unique advantages of studying in Hong Kong and the valuable living and working experience offered through the Working Holiday Scheme between Hong Kong and Austria.

     In his presentation, Mr Li briefed participants on Hong Kong's acclaimed universities including their scholarship opportunities and other advantages, such as the Talent List of Hong Kong and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, which make immigration into Hong Kong easier for young talents. He also highlighted the outstanding research opportunities available in Hong Kong. In the 2019-20 Budget, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) announced plans to inject HK$20 billion into the Research Endowment Fund and to set aside a dedicated provision of HK$16 billion for the refurbishment of research and development facilities at universities. Mr Li also pointed to Hong Kong's role as the region's innovation and technology centre, and emphasised the importance given to academic freedom in the city. 

     Many of Hong Kong's high-quality education programmes are taught in English, while the city's universities adopt international standards in curriculum design as well as quality assurance. Of the 21 local degree-awarding higher education institutions, three are ranked in the world's top 50 and three in Asia's top 10 by the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings 2019. To attract outstanding non-local students to study in Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government offers several scholarship opportunities including the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Scholarship Fund and the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme. 

     To experience Hong Kong first-hand, young people from Austria can also make use of the Working Holiday Scheme. Under the Scheme, young people from Austria between the ages of 18 and 30 can stay for up to 12 months in Hong Kong and are allowed to take up short-term employment as well as enrol in study or training courses as an incidental part of their stay, so as to acquire a better understanding of the cultural, economic and social developments of Hong Kong.

     For more details about studying and living in Hong Kong, visit studyinhongkong.edu.hk.

About HKETO Berlin

     HKETO Berlin is the official Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Austria as well as the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Ends/Monday, March 11, 2019
Issued at HKT 19:52

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