Hong Kong Baptist University offers journalists chance to study on campus with allowance matching salaries in first-ever scheme
- ‘Professional Journalism Fellowship’ scheme will allow selected fellows to study full-time at the university for one or two semesters
- Candidates must be nominated by their companies, and application ends on April 12
Hong Kong Baptist University is offering journalists in the city a chance to spend a year on campus attending courses of their choice while getting a monthly allowance that will match their salaries under a first-ever programme of its kind.
The “Professional Journalism Fellowship” scheme will allow selected fellows to study full-time at the university for one or two semesters. They can attend any courses at the undergraduate or postgraduate level as auditors with the prior approval of course instructors, according to Associate Professor of Practice Bonnie Chiu Lai-yu from the university’s School of Communication and Film.
They will also be granted access to on-campus learning resources and amenities, including the library and sports facilities.
“The fellows will each be granted a stipend commensurate with their respective incomes and levels of journalistic experience,” Chiu said.
The annual programme, regarded as the first of its kind in the city, will kick off in September when the new academic year begins. The scheme is aimed at raising industry standards by allowing active journalists to take a break and enrich their knowledge, according to the university. It also seeks to enhance journalism education locally by fostering connections between the school and the media sector.