2026 ABEN Study Tour: Hong Kong

As part of a collaborative initiative under the ABEN network, the NUCB Undergraduate School participated in a study tour to Hong Kong from May 10 to May 15, 2026, hosted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

Nine undergraduate students from NUCB’s Global BBA program joined participants from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in Hong Kong, National Chiayi University (NCYU) in Taiwan, National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan, and Hanyang University (HYU) in South Korea. In total, the programme brought together 37 student participants, in addition to faculty and staff members.

The study tour encouraged participants to explore Hong Kong from a new perspective, with a particular focus on sustainable business practices and innovation across a range of industries.

Day 1: Arrival and Settling In

NUCB students and staff met at Nagoya’s Chubu Centrair International Airport early in the morning in preparation for departure. Before boarding, students exchanged Japanese yen for Hong Kong dollars and purchased travel essentials such as power converters.

The flight departed smoothly, and the group arrived in Hong Kong on schedule.

Upon arrival at Hong Kong International Airport, representatives from CUHK welcomed participants from all partner universities. Students and staff then boarded a chartered bus and travelled directly to CUHK’s picturesque campus.

After checking into the university dormitory accommodation arranged by CUHK, participants were given a campus tour and introduced to the facilities available during their stay. The day concluded with a briefing on the programme schedule and activities planned for the week ahead.

Day 2: Opening Ceremony and Visit to Hong Kong Productivity Council

The following morning, students gathered at one of CUHK’s campus canteens for breakfast before beginning the first official day of the programme.

After breakfast, participants attended the opening ceremony, followed by the first workshop of the study tour, led by Mr. Sonam Wangchuk, Co-Founder and Director of Stargazers Consulting.

Stargazers Consulting is a training organisation dedicated to equipping university students with the skills needed to excel in case competitions, entrepreneurship, and professional development.

During the workshop, students participated in an interactive case study session, where they analysed business challenges, discussed solutions in groups, and exchanged ideas with participants from other universities.

In the afternoon, participants visited the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) in Kowloon Tong. Established in 1967, HKPC is a multi-disciplinary organisation that supports Hong Kong industries and businesses through technology transfer, innovation, and sustainable development initiatives.

During the visit, students learned about HKPC’s work in areas such as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), smart manufacturing, green technologies, and digital transformation. The session provided valuable insight into how organisations in Hong Kong are integrating sustainability into both business operations and long-term strategic planning.

Overall, the day was highly insightful and provided participants with a deeper understanding of innovation and sustainability in modern business practices.

Day 3: Sustainability Workshop and HSBC Visit

On the third day of the programme, students attended a session led by Professor Fred Ku, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Director of the Integrated BBA Programme at CUHK Business School, where he has served since 2009.

Students participated in an interactive workshop focused on business sustainability and innovation. As part of the session, participants were tasked with developing business ideas based on challenges faced by university students. Groups interviewed students around the CUHK campus to identify common issues experienced in daily student life and were then asked to develop practical business solutions to address those problems.

Each group presented creative and thoughtful ideas, which led to engaging discussions and constructive feedback among participants.

In the afternoon, students visited HSBC Group, one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. Founded in Hong Kong in 1865, HSBC has a long history of facilitating trade and financial connectivity between Asia and the West, and today serves millions of customers worldwide.

During the visit, representatives from HSBC delivered an insightful presentation on the bank’s digital platforms and initiatives aimed at improving accessibility for customers with impairments and disabilities.

Students showed strong interest throughout the session, asking a number of thoughtful questions about HSBC’s operations, accessibility initiatives, and digital innovation strategies. The visit provided valuable exposure to how large multinational organisations are approaching inclusivity and customer experience in the financial sector.

Day 4: MTR Data Studio and Sino Inno Lab

On the second-last official day of the study tour, participants visited two organisations to learn more about innovation, technology, and sustainable business practices in Hong Kong.

In the morning, the group visited MTR Data Studio. The MTR Corporation is a globally recognised transport operator and property developer established in 1975 to provide safe, efficient, and reliable railway services in Hong Kong. Beyond public transportation, MTR is well known for its unique “Rail + Property” business model, which integrates railway development with commercial and residential property projects to create long-term economic and social value.

The visit included an introduction to MTR Data Studio’s initiatives and projects, followed by an engaging Q&A session with company representatives.

In the afternoon, students visited Sino Inno Lab, an innovation platform established by Sino Group in 2018. The Lab serves as a sandbox environment for startups, inventors, and technology companies from Hong Kong and overseas, allowing them to test and showcase innovative products and solutions in real-world business settings.

During the visit, students were introduced to a variety of emerging technologies and were given the opportunity to experience and interact with several of the products and solutions currently being developed and tested at the Lab. The hands-on nature of the visit made it an engaging experience for participants and highlighted the growing role of innovative technologies in shaping future business operations and everyday life.

Day 5: Final Presentations and Wrap-Up

As part of the ABEN study tour programme, students were tasked with preparing a final group presentation.

Participants were required to develop a case study focusing on a corporation’s approach to business responsibility and sustainability. Using both first-hand and second-hand research, students analysed how companies address corporate responsibility and integrate sustainable practices into their operations.

Students explored questions such as:

Does the corporation’s approach to responsibility align with its core business capabilities?
Does the corporation’s view of responsibility align with the triple bottom line?
What is the corporation’s approach to social innovation?

Along with several other related themes and discussion points.

All participating students delivered excellent presentations that explored a wide range of topics, including ESG initiatives, corporate sustainability strategies, accessibility, innovation, and social responsibility. The presentations reflected the knowledge and perspectives students had gained throughout the programme and demonstrated strong teamwork and analytical thinking.

The study tour concluded with a wrap-up session where participants reflected on their experiences over the week. Through workshops, company visits, discussions, and collaborative activities, students gained valuable insight into sustainable business practices, innovation, and cross-cultural collaboration. The programme also provided participants with the opportunity to build new international connections and deepen their understanding of Hong Kong’s dynamic business environment.

Asian Business Education Network

The Asian Business Education Network (ABEN) is a platform that aims to deepen engagement among the top business schools in Asia and build strategic multilateral collaborations through education, student experience, industry engagement, and research.

The network currently consists of three universities: Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Nagoya University of Commerce and Business (NUCB), and National Chiayi University (NCYU).