To enhance students’ learning experience and equip them with a better understanding to food industries in China, the Department of Food and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, organized a study tour to China to visit local universities and food and beverage companies. The tour was funded by the Education Bureau's Pilot Mainland Experience Scheme (PMES).

On 23^rd March 2018, Dr SW Chan (Associate Professor), Dr Emily Choi (Assistant Professor), Dr Emily Tam (Teaching Fellow) and Dr Marcus Wong (Teaching Fellow) from the Department of Food and Health Sciences led a group of 65 students went on the 7-day visits to Shanghai and Wuxi.

Our students visited different universities in Shanghai and Jiangnan cities, including Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Jiangnan University School of Food Science and Technology. They had the chance to meet with local students and exchange their studies and research experiences through seminars, presentations, discussions and laboratory visits. They were also inspired by the mainland students’ sharing to organize student activities and to build a stronger sense of belonging to the school.

Visiting to various food and beverage companies and their manufacturing facilities allowed our students to have first-hand experience and a deeper understanding to the workflow of food processing and safety regulation in China. They have visited dairy industry, food flavoring company, manufacturer of Chinese breakfast steamed buns and beverage industries. In addition to company visits, students also explored the food culture in Shanghai through sightseeing and tasting of various traditional food products.

At the end of the trip, students were encouraged to share their reflection to the trip. “Factory visits were particularly intriguing where we could glimpse the production line and refresh our memories of the knowledge learnt in classes,” shared Tai Yuk Lee (Year 3 Student, Food and Health Science Programme). “I did learn more about the food industries in China, as well as the culture and society of the region after this tour.” We could see that they really enjoyed and treasured this learning opportunity offered by THEi.