From Different Countries to One Community: Faculty Hosts Speed Friending for New Non-Local Students
To help first-year non-local Social Sciences students establish meaningful connections, the Faculty of Social Sciences organised a lively Speed Friending event on September 10, 2025. The initiative provided a warm and welcoming environment for students to meet peers and share their experiences at the start of their academic journey.
Over 20 new students from diverse parts of the world joined the event, engaging in a series of fun icebreaker activities that created a vibrant tapestry of cultures.
New non-local students introduce themselves by sharing their home countries and languages.
Participants introduced themselves by sharing their home countries and mother languages. They also enjoyed a speed quiz game that offered insights into Hong Kong and HKU, fostering both curiosity and understanding among the new cohort.
To give students a taste of local life, the event featured delicious snacks such as egg tarts and refreshing local drinks, adding a cultural flavour to the afternoon.
Students enjoy a taste of Hong Kong with local snacks provided at the event.
A key highlight was a sharing session led by senior non-local students. They offered valuable tips from their personal experiences of navigating life at HKU, which helped foster a strong sense of community among the newcomers.
The event was a great success in building connections and easing the transition for the new students. The Faculty looks forward to hosting more initiatives that support student well-being, cultural exchange, and integration throughout the academic year.
A senior student shares personal experiences and advice with first-year students.