A group of 20 students from four different programmes^* offered by the Faculty of Science and Technology went on a 9-day study tour to Sydney, Australia, from 3^rd March to 11^th March, 2018. Led by Prof. PUN Kwok Leung, Head, Department of Construction Technology and Engineering and Dr. Gordon Leung, Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Programme, the tour aims at providing international exposure for our students to widen their learning experiences.

Co-organized with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), THEi students had the chance to interact with local students, academics and researchers from UTS on a number of workshops, technical talks, cultural tours and student’s interaction sessions.

The trip was kicked-off with a campus tour. THEi students had the opportunities to visit some of the iconic facilities of UTS such as the Library Retrieval System - an underground storage facility for lesser-used items of UTS Library collection, the Data Arena - the 360-degree interactive data visualization facility, the Science Super Lab – the first of its kind facility in Australia that supports multi-disciplinary classes and experiments and the new extension buildings of the campus which is now being constructed. Students were able learn from all these good practices regarding engineering, innovation and sustainability in Australia.

During the stay in UTS, our students attended workshops conducted by UTS professors to study the technical and cultural similarities and difference between Hong Kong and Sydney. Professor John Zhou, Head of Civil & Environmental Engineering, UTS also delivered technical talks regarding the collaborations between UTS and THEi on various aspects and levels such as the vehicle emission research and the launch of the Master of Engineering Management (MEM) Programme in the near future.

Towards the end of the tour, students toured around several famous attraction points such as Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and Blue Mountains to understand more on the historical and cultural aspects of Sydney.

“It was really a fruitful journey to UTS. I was amazed by how automation system is applied to the retrieval and management of library items and its use of underground space for books storage with careful monitoring and control on humidity and temperature,” Sherry Cheung shared (Surveying Programme, Year 1). “I also had a good time and made new friends with THEi schoolmates, as well as UTS students.”

About University of Technology Sydney

University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a dynamic and innovative university in central Sydney. One of Australia’s leading universities of technology, UTS has a distinct model of learning, strong research performance and a leading reputation for engagement with industry and the professions.

^* The four programmes are Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering and Management, Building Services Engineering and Surveying.