The International Connection Programme (ICP), debuting in the 2024/25 academic year, is an initiative highlighting three key elements: peer mentorship, global leadership, and cross-cultural integration.
In its inaugural year, over 130 students were recruited, who hailed from 20 cultural backgrounds, such as Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, mainland China, Mongolia, Myanmar, South Korea, Tajikistan, Thailand, Vietnam. Each mentorship group consisted of one mentor and no more than two mentees, both local and non-local students, to ensure cultural interaction and integration.
To better equip the participants with the skills necessary to achieve the programme objectives, three training workshops on different topics, namely event organization and cross-cultural communication, global leadership skills, and stress management, were held.
While the mentors and their mentees met for gatherings, all the participants also organized team-based events to facilitate cultural interaction. The seven events featuring language, fashion, food, festival, music, movie, arts and crafts, acted as catalysts for cultural exposure and integration. A day trip to CUHK (Shenzhen) further enriched the experience, offering students a chance to have insightful discussions with their peers.
One of the programme’s highlights was a 5-day cultural tour of Singapore, awarded to the top-performing team based on their final presentation of their self-initiated cultural event. During the trip, the 18 participants engaged meaningfully with the students from the National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University, and explored the Lion City’s rich cultural heritage through guided tours of Chinatown, Little India, and the Sultan Mosque, gaining deeper insights into Singapore’s diverse cultures.
Throughout this year-long journey, participants have had positive comments on this programme for its value and transformative experiences. The ICP for 2025/26 is now open for applications. Please check the details here: https://lces.osa.cuhk.edu.hk/cultural-integration/international-connection-programme/
