Internationalist Issue 11 Fall 2008 - College of International ...

The InternationalistThe InternationalistViews expressed by contributors are their own and do notreflect those of the University and the College of InternationalEducation.Contributions are printed as submitted, preserving the authenticityof the text. However, the Editorial Team retains the rightto modify contributions. Send contributions to:The InternationalistCollege of International EducationHong Kong Baptist UniversityKowloon Tong, Hong KongTel.: 3411-3388 Fax: 3411-2729Editor-in-Chief: Geff HeathmanCIE Radio Channel x MISTERBy Becky PoonWith the re-launch of the CIE radio channel, programproducers invited a new band in town, MISTER, toshare with students their passion and experience in musicat the cozy Shek Mun studio on 6 November.About 80 CIE students, alumni and staff rock-n-rolledwith MISTER on that Thursday afternoon, and theyseemed to fully appreciate the band’s music & talent.Not only did they have a chance to listen to live musicwith up, close and personal moments, but they also wereable to listen to a live broadcast of an interview with theband.“I really love the atmosphere of the show” – King, CIEgraduate; “The studio is really cool!!” – Jason, CIE student;“Let’s do more of these kinds of shows!” – Raymond,CIE Associate HeadLog onto www.cie.hkbu.edu.hk/ciechannel for theinterview with MISTER, you can also check other newprograms, new moves, or, simply, ‘BE MOTIVATED’!If you are motivated to be DJ or program host for theCIE radio channel send a message to the radio staff...Stay tuned!2

The InternationalistCelebrating HalloweenBy The English ClubThe English Club and the CIESS held its first ever Halloween Partyon the 5/F Podium at the CIE Shek Mun campus on Thursday,30 October 2008. There were Halloween games and a competitionfor Best Costume and Best Horrific Laugh. Of course, whatwould Halloween be without tricks and treats – there was enoughcandy to go around spoiling our teeth.Students, lecturers and other members of staff dressed up andjoined the fun. We had ghosts, ghouls, goblins and gargoyles ofall sorts wandering the campus all day long! Some claimed thelecturers looked even better in creepy costumes! Florence Chauand Keenu Gill – both Year 1 students graciously agreed to be ourpremier event’s MCs, a job well done indeed.However, it was more than just a day to have fun. We had a tasteof cultural history and learned about the roots of Halloween. Didyou know, for instance, that Halloween has connections to bothChristianity and pagan festivals?In ancient times, the day was a Celtic harvest festival and theChristian church later made November 1st All Saints’ Day or “AllHallows Day”. Halloween or “holy eve” was also a day to commemoratethose who had died, not all that different from the waythe Chinese remember the deceased during the Ghost Festival onthe fourteenth day of the seventh lunar month, or even ChingMing Festival. Therefore, contrary to a common misconception,Halloween is not a satanic festival despite all the costumes of devilsand vampires (many of which were in fact inspired by Gothicstories and Hollywood films). In many Western cultures, it is evenseen as one way to teach children life lessons about death andmortality while having harmless fun. Halloween, now a purelysecular festival, is increasingly popular around the world. And,now, CIE has joined the celebration with its very own signaturestyle.Thanks are given to the CIESS committee for helping out withthe details. Last but not least, thanks also to the teacher advisorsof the English Club for this howling Halloween success. Be readyfor more fun with the English Club next semester!4

The InternationalistA Great Visit toMicrosoft Hong Kong LtdBy Simon ChowCIE students of Computing Studies andManagement Information System (MIS)led by IT lecturers visited the MicrosoftHong Kong Limited headquarters in Cyberporton 13 November 2008.Arriving at Cyberport in Pokfulam, theparticipants felt excited and refreshedwhen they saw the “cyber-looking” buildingsand beautiful seashore. We were welcomedby a senior manager from Microsoftand briefed about Microsoft’s CompanyVision.On an office tour, afterwards, we wereamazed by the advanced conference room,the entertainment game rooms, and the relaxingmassage chair rooms. The facilitiesseemed really attractive for the employees.Finally, a Microsoft specialist demonstratedsome new products that used the latesttechnology at Microsoft. We all found thistrip very fruitful.CIE students and lecturers at Microsoft Hong Kong LimitedCome Play with Us - Invisible Issue 3Now Available!The latest issue of the Invisible is based on the theme “Play”where you can read CIE students’ exclusive interviews withplayful celebrities, creative works by CIE-ians that first madetheir debut in the college magazine, and deftly written articlespenned by CIE lecturers. Get a copy of the Invisible and ponderthe different possibilities in life.The third issue of Invisible was launched at the ADFP CollegeAssembly on November 12, with over 300 ADFP studentscelebrating the tremendous efforts of the 50 students committedto the publication project. Ng Chun-tat, one of the studentsinterviewing Mr. Chim Sui-man who once organized a playworkshop at the CIE, learnt from the artist how to enjoy andlearn from failure. Ivan Lam, one of the student editors, saidhe was much inspired by the Kidult culture he researched for afeature article. The expanding editorial board took great pridein the college magazine as a manifestation of CIE-ians’ spirit ofbeing creative, innovative, and extraordinary.Dr. Liang Man-yu (right) and Mr. Gary Tsang(left), Invisible Editors, noted that students realizethe spirit of quality liberal arts education, and theexpanding student editorial board shared theirpride with fellow schoolmates5

The InternationalistHighlights of Associate Degree Foundation Programme: 2007-2008Self-reflect - Change - Grow!6

The InternationalistHighlights of Associate Degree Programme: 2006 - 2008Learn Beyond Limits7

The InternationalistThe Environment & U‘Experts on Campus’ Guest Talk SeriesBy CIE Environmental Conservation TeamIn the ‘Experts on Campus’ guest talk series, prominent and distinguished professionalsin the area of environmental education, nature conservation, environmental pollutionand food safety are invited to campus to interact with CIE students, lecturers,and staff through seminar sessions and public lectures.Saving Frogs for Good? Frog Biodiversity and Conservation in Hong KongFrog populations are vanishing worldwide! About one out of three species are threatenedwith extinction. Environmental problems, such as habitat loss, pollution andclimate change, are the main causes for the declining frog population.Observing live frogs up closeFrog Expert, Dr. Bryan Wong sharing withCIE studentsYou can do your part to help! A talk entitled “Frog Conservation” was held on 2October 2008 at Shek Mun Campus, aiming to arouse the awareness of studentsto the importance of nature conservation in Hong Kong. Dr. Bryan Wong, HongKong Wetland Park, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, sharedhis views on the status and prospect of frog conservation and discussed the impactsarising from urban development upon the decreasing frog populations both locallyand globally.Living specimens of frogs and salamanders were a highlight of the talk as students hadthe opportunity to closely observe and touch these wonderful animals. The guest talkwas very well received with over 130 CIE students attending. Both the speaker and thestudents raised thought-provoking questions and exchanged views on nature conservation,which made the guest talk highly interactive and informative.Old and Valuable Trees in Hong Kong: An Opportunity and CrisisWhy save old trees? Mr. Ken So, Conservation Manager of the ConservancyAssociation and a prominent tree expert, was at Shek Mun Campus on 18October 2008 to share his valuable experiences and insights about the TreeCrisis in Hong Kong. Mr. So informed students about the Register of Old& Valuable Trees, which was established by the Hong Kong government toensure that trees can be well preserved and maintained. Given the worldwidemovement on environmental conservation, Mr. So encouraged CIE studentsto foster the awareness of OVT conservation in Hong Kong. The guest talkwas very well received with 150 guests, students and lecturers finding outthat old trees are not only ecologically important, but they also serve a partof our collective memories.Tree Expert, Mr. Ken So sharing the challengesof tree conservationSensory Test:Testing your sensory sensitivityFood Science: ‘Learning through Action’By Food Safety and Environmental Health TeamSensory TestAre you sensitive to sweet? How many spoonfuls of sugar do you usually add to a drink? Ifyou need more than 3, you may not be sensitive enough to sweets? To find out more aboutyour sensitivity to taste, you should learn about the taste buds of the tongue; CIE studentsrecently learnt about their sensitivity to taste and much more through such testing.Over 150 CIE students studying ‘Health and Food Science’ participated in a Sensory Testat the Nutrition Science Laboratory at Shek Mun Campus on 9-10 October 2008. Studentstasted a variety of real food samples and then found out the whereabouts of their taste budsfor sweet, sour, salty, alkaline and bitter foods. Students also experimented with a taste threshold test. Students were providedwith drinks of various concentrations of ingredients and they tried to evaluate their recognition threshold.Visit to Herb ParadiseHerbs are popular nowadays! Herbs are so versatile that they can be used for drinks, cooking and even to improve your health.The CIE Food Safety and Environmental Health Team organized a visit to ‘Loi Aromatherapy’ in October and November 2008for over 150 CIE students studying ‘Health and Food Science’. Students enjoyed the visit very much as they were able to inspectcommon herbs and learned how herbal-blended oil could be used for relieving headaches and shoulder stiffness. The studentsvery much appreciated the visit and the opportunity to learn more about herbs.8

The InternationalistOut-of-Classroom Learning:Exploring the Hong Kong Wilderness at Day and NightBy CIE Environmental Conservation Team and Environmental Conservation Club (EC Club)Believe it or not, Hong Kong is well known for its fascinating diversity of plants and animals. Are you ready to joinCIE students to experience these amazing aspects of Hong Kong wilderness?Night SafariMany exciting creatures are nocturnal, which means they are active at night. Youmay recall the last time you visited a zoo in the day time. Lions are not lazy; it isjust not the right time to ‘see’ them in action. They come alive at night. Watchinganimals in a zoo in the day is one thing, but observing them at night is a wholedifferent experience.The Hong Kong Wetland Park organized for the first time a series of Night Safaritours for invited guests only. Lucky enough, the CIE Environmental ConservationClub (EC Club) students were the very first group invited to join the newlyintroducedNight Safari, so CIE students were able to explore the wild nightlife.Night Safari: Searching for frogs15 CIE students were guided by experienced nature guides and frog experts toinvestigate the nature’s night-time creatures on nocturnal strolls through the Parkon 17 May 2008. In just 2 hours, roosting birds, hungry bats, brilliant fireflies andover 6 species of frogs were found to the delight of the students.Marine Life Show: Students ofEnvironmental Conservation ClubMarine Life Show: Students introducingthe beauty of marine lifeMarine Life ShowStarfish, sea urchins, corals, sea shellsand sea anemone were some of theamazing live specimens displayed inMay 2008 at Shek Mun Campus. A marinelife showcase was held by EC Clubstudents at the 5/F podium showcasinglive marine animals, and they explainedto CIE lecturers, colleagues and studentsthe fascinating ecology of marinesuch as the woodland and freshwater stream at Tai Po Kau and the grassland andsoft shore at Ma On Shan. Students were all delighted to visit the fascinating wildernessand gain hands-on experience of ecological surveys; they found out thatHong Kong is full of exciting animals and plants.Is Shing Mun River clean and drinkable?Want to be an environmental expert? The opportunity is here. Over 80 ADF Studentstaking ‘Wonders of the Environment’ gained experience as environmentalexperts as they participated in a water pollution study of Shing Mun River thatanalyzed a range of water quality indicators in November 2008.Is it safe to drink water from Shing Mun River? From their investigations, theanswer is NO! The fecal bacteria level was found too high for safe consumption.Night Safari: Studying frogs up close withfrog expertslife and the threats that it is facing. The show aimed at arousing the awareness ofnature conservation amongst the CIE community and attracted over 100 visitors.Visit to Wetland Park and Nature ParadisesCan wetlands be created? Yes, wetlands can be ‘built’. The Hong Kong WetlandPark is a uniquely constructed paradise for many wildlife species. However, it wasa large piece of inactive land and abandoned fish ponds. In the late 1990s, it wasset aside as compensation for wetlands lost due to new town development, butthe Hong Kong Government decided to develop it into a full-fledged eco-tourismsite. Over 60 students joined a field visit on 22 November 2008 to the man-madePark and explored the diversity of animals and plants. One of the most popularcharacters in the Park is Pui Pui, a crocodile captured in Shan Pui River, YuenLong. During the visit Ms. Carrie Ma (Education Manager, Hong Kong WetlandPark) offered the students an hour seminar sharing the history and developmentof the Park.The Wetland Park is just one of the many nature paradises in Hong Kong. Inautumn 2008, Environmental Conservation students conducted field surveys at anumber of ecologically important sites,Water Quality Monitoring at Shing Mun River9

Summer Internship andEnvironmental CarnivalFrom Page 1Upon completion of the summer internship, CIE studentinterns organized an ‘Environmental Carnival’ at ShekMun Campus on 18 October 2008 to offer the CIE communityand the general public a glimpse of environmentalconservation work in Hong Kong. The carnival featuredexhibitions, games and demonstrations. The students alsoprepared and published a 28-page booklet entitled ‘Interns’Blog’ that illustrates their valuable work experienceas interns. The carnival was a success and was well receivedby over 170 participants. Johnny Leung, a student intern,shared that the internship experience was absolutely excitingand challenging, and it marks a significant milestoneThe InternationalistGuests of 10 partner organizations joining the EnvironmentalCarnival at Shek Mun CampusEnvironmental Conservation students celebrating the success of the carnivalfor his future career. James Luk, Managerof Fung Tuen Butterfly Reservenoted that the student interns wereenthusiastic and confident. The internshipis a win-win situation as both sidesbenefit from the programme.Three CIE student interns were invitedto serve as ecotour guides for the HangSeng Green Programme; they led about60 undergraduate students on a visit ofthe Hong Kong Wetland Park in TinShui Wai on 15 November 2008. TheHang Seng Green Programme is sponsoredby Hang Seng Bank and organizedby the Office of Student Affairs,HKBU.Work experience shared by student internsStudent interns working in wetland habitatUnderstanding Food AllergyFood Safety and Environmental Health TeamWe are what we eat, do you agree? Asthma, constipation and depression, for example, all have their roots, in part, embeddedin how our bodies respond to the food we eat. An allergy test is useful to help us discover with ease what we need toavoid and what we can include in our diet to minimize allergic reactions and strengthen our immune system. A talk entitled‘Food Allergy and Health’ was organized on 16 October 2008 at the Shek Mun Campus. The aim of the talk was toarouse the awareness of students to common food allergens and their association with minor ailments. Food allergy expert,Mr. Kelvin Tang, Director of Hong Kong Bio Tek Limited, shared his expert views on food allergy and how allergy testshave helped individuals. Mr. Tang added that the latest technologies can now test the sensitivity and responses of our immunesystem to 96 foods from small blood samples. Discussion of the latest news and case studies on food allergy were thehighlight of the talk. The talk was very well received by over 140 CIE students.10

The InternationalistStudent Staff ConsultativeCommittee TEA PARTYBy Sheren ChengIt’s a wonderful feeling to see CIE becoming busy andvibrant again with the voices andfaces of students in both KowloonTong and Shek Mum campuses. Tomaintain the vibrant campus lifeand for the development of CIE,your suggestions and views are veryimportant. Thus, the Student StaffConsultative Committee (SSCC)provides an informal means ofcommunication between studentand staff representatives. All membersare welcome to give commentsand suggestions on different areas of CIE life, like college facilities,teaching and learning, social life and further studies.The first SSCC had a tea party on 30 October 2008 towelcome the new SSCC members. This year, we have 48student representatives and 6 academic and administrativesupport staff in KT campus, and 34 student representativesand 10 academic and administrativesupport staff in SM campus.At the tea party, we shared ourviews and experiences about collegefacilities, canteen and libraryservices, new semester life, personaltime management and much more.Thank you for your joining andsharing! Your contributions arevery important to CIE!! There willbe another gathering at the end ofthe first semester.Students, lecturers and staff sharing views about CIE at the SSCC Tea PartyCIE Career Day 2008By Alan YimGreat achievements are not accidental…they are must certainly willed. Think Big, Dream Big.On 11 June 2008, the CIE Guidance and Counseling Team organized the CIE Career Day 2008 with a view to assistour students/graduates in understanding who they are and what careers are good for them. This event was held at the1/F Foyer of the Madam Chan Wu Wan Kwai School of Continuing Education Tower.Career Information SharingCIE guidance counselors, Alan, Raymond & Emily were on the spot to provide students with career information includingcareer/life planning, marketing to potential employers, and handling job interviews. In addition, Ms. AlisonLo, CIE lecturer, shared with the participants some practical job hunting tips. We also had Mr. Alan Wong, a studentcounselor of HKBU, to assist the participants in doing a career interests assessment.Opportunities of Getting to Know the World of WorkMoreover, a total of nine companies participated in the event, namely: Cathay Pacific Catering Services Ltd, Hang SengBank, Health Works Ltd., Hong Kong Police Force, HSBC, Jardine Aviation Services, Nanyang Commercial Bank,PCCW, & Well Born Real Estate Management Ltd.Some of the companies set up exhibition booths to advertise their career opportunities. Some employers also conductedon-site screening interviews for the participants.Those who came to the event shared that the Career Day was an excellent opportunity to acquire information for theirfuture career/life planning. More importantly, it also allowed them to understand the employers’ expectations of freshgraduates. One recent graduate expressed that “it is a useful event and should be held more often”.This event would not have been so successful had it not been with the support of our dedicated student helpers. Ourdeepest appreciation to these helpers!CIE Career Day 2009In view of the success of this event, the next CIE Career Day 2009 will be held in April 2009. Please watch out forfuture announcements.EnquiriesStudents who are interested to learn more about the CIE Career Day may contact Mr. Alan Yim, Guidance Counsellor,at alanyim@hkbu.edu.hk.11

The InternationalistJA Company ProgramFrom Page 1Inspiration Through Inner StrengthBy Richard OtsukiThe world hasn’t really had many reasons to smile recently. Lehman Brothers have officially announced bankruptcy, unemploymenthas plagued the world, taxi fares are about to increase again in Hong Kong and even coke cans have downsized.The only question left to ask is: can things get any worse? Enter Nick Vujicic, an Australian double-degree bachelor, adevoted Christian and a charismatic and inspiring man. Oh, did I forget to tell you, he has no arms and legs? Apart froma little drumstick-looking leg (that may have more athletic abilities than an average leg), he was born without arms or legs;even doctors did not fully understand why this happened.Fear not, as Nick has said, it wasn’t what he couldn’t do that mattered but rather what he could do. A true inspiration toall those who lack ability to find faith or hope in life, Nick has gone all over the world to talk about his experiences withpeople in need. His belief that it is better to see the bright side and try to build on what we have rather than agonizing onall the negative circumstances that have surrounded us, has liberated people from fear and depression in.A true hero, by focusing on what we as humans can do, despite harsh realities, Nick has placed hope and strength in faithfor living and looking forward in many people. I used to wonder how big my biceps needed to be for me to be stronge;Nick Vujicic has answered my question: inner strength beats all.Terry Chong, CEOI decided to join the JA Company Program once again because Ireally enjoy taking part in business activities and challenging myself.Having last year’s unforgettable experience, I know much betterabout how a company is organized. Although the program tooka lot of time and was quite tough for me, I found it very exciting. Iwas a member of the Production Department last year, and now, asthe CEO, I found it is actually very hard to lead a group of peers.I think that the JA Company Program really helps students to discovertheir talents and interests. I have discovered that I have talentin marketing, so I have chosen Marketing as my concentration atCIE. The JA company program is a fantastic program that allowsus to broaden our horizons and prepare ourselves for future careers. Tinko Lee, Crystal Chow, Mato Chan and Terry ChongCrystal Chow, Sales Department HeadThe reason why I decided to take part in the JA Company Program once more is that the challenges that I face during theprogram help me to continuously discover and improve my abilities. I was one of the presenters at the Annual General Meeting(AGM), and I had to report the annual business achievements to the shareholders of our company. This experience letme realize that self-confidence is much more important than talent. Although I was nervous when I gave the presentation, Idid my best to report the accomplishments of the Production Department. Because of this, I joined again this year to havemore challenges and to enhance my self-confidence. Being the Head of the Sales Department is a big challenge for me as I donot have much experience leading others. However, it is a good chance for me to test my leadership skills which will be verypractical for my future career. This experience is very valuable and unforgettable.Mato Chan, Production Department HeadThis is my second time to take part in the JA Company Program. It enables me to learn and practice business ideas and issues,which is a rare opportunity. Moreover, I receive opportunities to manage personal affairs in a company. Having lastyear’s experience working in the Production Department, I have learnt how to brainstorm and create new products, organizeproduction, and maintain productivity with quality control. I have great interest in production, so I wanted to be the vicepresident of the Production Department this year.Tinko Lee, member of Production DepartmentWhat are the reasons for me to join the JA Company Program again? I think the main reason is that I had an unforgettableexperience last year. All the tasks that we had to deal with made me feel like I was in the real business world. We needed toraise capital by inviting shareholders. We had to produce products and make profits. I have learnt so much: how to get alongwith a team, how to interact with different departments, and how to influence others to achieve our company goal. Besides,I realize that it is very important for a person to acquire interpersonal skills and public speaking skills, which are essential inthe business world. In my first year of the JA Company Program, I did things that most other people at our age could notdo; students do not have much chance to organize and operate an actual business enterprise. It was a memorable experienceand joining the JA Company Program was the “coolest” decision that I have ever made.12