Read our students' stories that start from the CUHK and go further beyond.

Working with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin this summer was a valuable chance for me, who is interested in understanding and connecting with international businesses.

I was offered the chance to participate and assist in the preparation of 2 exhibitions, AsiaBerlin Summit and hub.berlin. These events has broadened my understanding of international business and technology trends in the Asian and European markets. I have gained valuable insights on the increasingly important cooperation between economics, trade, and technology in modern world. Engaging with industry leaders and innovators at these summits also enhanced my skills in networking and communication, while exposing me to diverse perspectives.

It has been an honour to meet and listen to speeches by Prof. Sun Dong (SITI of HKSARG) and Mr. Kai Wegner (Mayor of Berlin) at the AsiaBerlin Summit held in Rotes Rathaus. Their speeches excited me for expecting further economic cooperation and exchange between Hong Kong and Germany. Conferences at the Summit also provoked my reflection on the new era of technology and increasingly significant climate challenges. The Summit also held different booths from different countries in addition to Germany and Hong Kong, which exposed me to a wide range of Asian and Western cultures.

hub.berlin, a start-up event, has also led me to emerging new business industries such as digital arts (NFTs) and blockchain. I managed to exchange contacts with German tech start-ups and received ample interesting insights about their businesses and their view on the industry. For example, my conversation with a berlin-based 3D digital artist has expanded my understanding on the possibilities of digital arts and small galleries and museums. This experience has led to my growing interest of liaising with different people in my future career.

However, navigating these experiences wasn't without challenges. It took a while for me to adapt to the German working environment and be confident in approaching different businesses. Nonetheless, I am glad that this internship has given me the chance to grow and enhance my communication skills with both German and English language. I have learned to be more patient and innovative in expressing ideas across cultural and linguistic differences. It was also nice to have helpful and caring colleagues and supervisor who support me throughout this journey.

Overall, the internship provided me with an invaluable opportunity to refine my professional skills and broaden my understanding of global economic trends. Despite the challenges, these experiences have enriched my perspective and prepared me for future career and personal development.