On August 11,  the summer camp on the Playshop for Language and Cultural Exchange (PLACE) organized by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST-GZ) opened with nearly 150 youths from 31 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, India, Oman, Mexico, and Brazil joining HKUST-GZ's over 400 freshmen from the 2025 undergraduate cohorts.

PLACE is a signature international program launched by HKUST (GZ) last year, with nearly 300 participants in its inaugural year.

Prof. Lionel M. Ni, President of HKUST (GZ), emphasized that the PLACE Summer Camp is not just a platform for knowledge exchange but also a bridge for global youth dialogue.

Yang Yong, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangzhou Municipality, introduced Guangzhou to the overseas students, noting that it serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of South China, and a core engine of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Notably, one-third of this year's participants from 31 countries are from Guangzhou's 109 international sister cities.

Mr. Tomás Azevedo, Consul General of Portugal in Guangzhou, stated that HKUST-GZ's efforts and achievements in promoting educational globalization are impressive. He hopes that the success of PLACE will lay a solid foundation for deepening youth exchanges and university collaborations between China and Portugal.

Ms. Jana Ludwig, Deputy Consul General of Germany in Guangzhou, noted that since last year, an increasing number of German students have joined PLACE to learn about China, experience Lingnan culture, and interact with outstanding HKUST (GZ) students.

Mr. Brian D. Brendel, Consul of the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou, expressed delight that 23 participants are from the United States this year, emphasizing the significance of such exchanges in fostering global youth cultural communication.

Frankie Watson-Brown, a student from the UK, highlighted the importance of face-to-face interactions in eliminating prejudices and promoting understanding, pledging to use his own experience to strengthen global youth connections during the camp.

American student Meelod Waheed used the metaphor of "being a sponge" to encourage everyone to embrace diverse perspectives with an open mind, turning this experience into an opportunity to reshape thinking and broaden horizons.

Over the next two weeks, the campers will engage in extensive exchanges through daily life, study, and activities, immersing themselves in learning, exploring the GBA, and discovering Lingnan's history and culture while making friends with peers worldwide. They will explore language, culture, sports, and technology, enhance their skills through interdisciplinary and project-based collaborative learning, embrace a global perspective, and strengthen their intercultural communication abilities.

Photo | HKUST (GZ)