My own university aims to have a quarter of all students enjoying at least one semester at an exchange partner university. In our business school, half of all undergraduate students go on exchange programmes.

Importantly, the value of these student exchanges varies greatly. Our systematic evaluations show that some students during their exchange semester have broadened their horizons, learned a great deal about other cultures, and increased their capability to deal with cultural differences. However, the knowledge and attitudes of many other students have not changed in any meaningful way after these exchange experiences.

Our follow-up research indicates that two factors account for this difference. Students who do learn and improve themselves during the exchange have interacted more frequently and more intensively with local people. They have also been required to reflect on their experiences by keeping a journal during their time away from Hong Kong or actively reflecting on it after returning home. This post-exchange reflection commonly involves discussing the experience with their professors or writing a report that goes beyond description to explain why things are different.

In contrast, the exchange students who have not changed significantly tend to have spent much of their time communicating with friends back in Hong Kong as well as both shopping and sightseeing. In addition, systematic reflection is unlikely to have been a compulsory part of their exchange programme.

A growing number of young people in Hong Kong have an opportunity to spend time overseas. It is critical that they maximise the value of these experiences. No one wants our youth to be insulated or isolated, but the responsibility to become engaged and reflexive rests primarily with the individual. This includes wisely spending the precious time away from Hong Kong.