A Life-changing Exchange Experience
A Life-changing Exchange Experience
Sarsini Novak Valerio's Story
Faculty of Social Sciences
BSocSc
Novak is a year 3 Social Sciences student who just returned from a year-long exchange programme. He was one of the only two students selected by HKU for the 3 Campus Comparative East Asian Studies Programme (3 Campus), a collaboration between the Faculty of Social Sciences of HKU, Yonsei University and Keio University.
East Asia is Novak’s field of interest. Under this scheme, Novak spent his fall semester in Tokyo, spring semester in Seoul before returning to Hong Kong for a short summer course and an internship.
Novak found his time in Keio the most insightful. It opened his eyes to an immense and fascinating culture. “Throughout the five months in Japan, I had the chance to bond with the place and the people I met there, as well as to travel around the country which I do recommend.”
Yonsei, on the other hand, was the most academically inspiring place for Novak. “I learnt (and studied) a lot of important things that I didn't know before, regarding Korean history and its fundamental role in the global scheme, thanks to excellent professors, they helped me a lot, and we still keep contact with each other.”
"Despite being in a long and intense programme, 3 Campus has provided Novak with an extraordinary academic opportunity which makes it a truly life-changing experience."
The third leg of the programme began with a two-week course at HKU. Novak found this course useful even for Hong Kong natives as well, as it covered several aspects of Hong Kong society, history and politics that are usually being overlooked. The programme culminated in a six-week summer internship at JEMS, a character education institution, where Novak designed a project of his own on a social issue and completed a presentation on that topic.
Despite being in a long and intense programme, 3 Campus has provided Novak with an extraordinary academic opportunity which makes it a truly life-changing experience.
Written by:
Truston Yu
Year 4, Faculty of Social Science
September 2019