Interns get taste of commercial world

Agroup of University of Hong Kong students have completed their summer internship on the Marketing Internship Programme (MIP).

About 30 second year Bachelor of Business Administration students spent their summer at various local and international companies. They used the opportunity to put the knowledge they had acquired at university into practice in the commercial world.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, programme director Professor Eric Zhang Jay said: 'I would like to thank our business friends who offered opportunities for our students to do intern ships. The opportunity was something the students will treasure.'

There was a big difference in students after their training. Their attitude towards learning had changed. They became more goal-oriented, participated more actively in class and asked challenging questions, Professor Zhang said.

This year, 22 companies supported the programme. There are plans to expand the scheme to allow more students to take part next year.

Raymond Ma Shui-lung, 22, worked for athletic management firm SportsNetsGlobal over the last two months. His major duties included marketing research, analysis and data interpretation. He said the internship was beneficial to both his studies and his future career.

'It was very different from what I had seen and learned at school,' he said. 'The school setting is confined. But at work, I know that every department is mutually dependent. I had to think in more detail and consider every small part.