Office of Study Abroad 60 South Lincoln Street Washington, Pennsylvania 15301 USA tel/ (+1) 724-503-1001 x6051 fax/ (+1) 724-250-3381 e/[email protected] http://www.washjeff.edu/study-abroad Lingnan University, Hong Kong Dates: Fall term: Late-August to late-December Spring term: Mid-January to mid-May Housing: Dormitory Language of Instruction: Chinese & English Institution Link: Lingnan University Host City: Tuen Mun, in the Northwestern New Territories, was once a major harbor of Southern China. It was an important gateway to the many foreign politicians and merchants who visited the mainland, and this busy traffic brought opportunities and businesses flourished. Being one of the earliest settlements of foreign visitors, Tuen Mun was a port with many shops, foreign schools and villages. Today Tuen Mun is a well-developed new town with many large shopping malls and restaurants. It is also where you find the Hong Kong Gold Coast, a popular resort development built in the Southern European style. Set on an idyllic coast, it offers city dwellers the space and environment to unwind. There is a sandy beach nearby where visitors can take a cool dip or get a perfect tan. There is more to Tuen Mun than its public housing estates and private residential developments. For a journey into the past, you can visit Ching Chung Koon, a Taoist temple which is the perfect example of local culture. The temple provides an oasis of calm among the high-rise buildings that surround it, but also exemplifies a rich character with a valuable collection of rare calligraphy, scrolls and couplets, as well as many horticultural delight. Ching Chung Koon is also home to the annual Bonsai Festival held in April. Another Tuen Mun annual spectacular is the dragon boat races held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in Castle Peak Bay to celebrate Tuen Ng Festival. This event combines color, speed and excitement and is very popular with locals and tourists. There are a substantial amount of government facilities also, including a magistrates court, registration office and other governmental office. Leisure facilities include several sports complex, a multi-story central library supplemented by two others, and a theatrical and concert venues in the shape of Tuen Mun Town Hall. Institution: The only liberal arts institution in Hong Kong, Lingnan University was established in July 1999, though the original college was founded in 1967 modeled after its first Lingnan Uniestablishment in China, which opened in 1888. This small campus is located in the New Territories in Tuen Mun and is filled with both eastern and western architectural, cultural, and teaching styles. There are approximately 2,000 students at Lingnan, 75% of whom live on campus. The campus includes four teaching blocks, indoor and outdoor sports complexes, outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, amenities building (student union and activities) and student hostels (dormitories). Hong Kong is a bilingual society with Chinese and English as its national languages. Both languages are spoken, taught and fostered at Lingnan University (approximately one-half of the classes are taught in English). Program in Brief: A core characteristic of Lingnan's undergraduate programs is the integration of professional knowledge with general education, which aims to equip its graduates with humanistic and intellectual capacities that are requisite for future leaders in a changing world. Another core characteristic of the programs is their international orientation, which embraces both global and comparative perspectives. Academic Programs & Areas of Study: Three main areas of study are offered at Lingnan with a wide range of class selection in each: Bachelors in Arts (Translation, Language, Philosophy, English, Cultural Studies, Chinese, General Education) Bachelors in Business Administration (Accounting and Finance, Information Systems, Management, Marketing and International Business) Bachelors in Social Sciences (Economics, Politics and Sociology) Course Load and Grading System: Grading at Lingnan is similar to the American School system. Full-time students take a minimum of 12 credits a semester and a maximum of 18. The final exam system is quite formal, so students may not request to take exams early. Student Life: Hong Kong Lingnan University provides a campus environment that promotes self-learning and maximizes opportunities for social, cultural and extra-curricular activities. An annual cultural festival, swimming gala, intramural sports tournaments, singing and dance contests, and high-table dinners are some highlights on-campus. During term time, the President's breakfast, staff-student tournaments and assemblies also take place. Housing & Meals: Approximately 1,500 of Lingnan's 2,000 students reside in the student hostels. Each room is a double occupancy and exchange students will not be living with another exchange student. Hostels are divided up by gender with all males living on the first floors and females residing on the second floors. All rooms have two LAN points for access to the university's network. There are a total of six hostels—all of which are fully air-conditioned. Each floor has a small pantry and shared bathroom/shower facilities. Each hostel has its own warden, senior tutors and tutors who look after the welfare of their residents as well as plan various activities throughout the year. There is no student meal plan at Lingnan. Students may purchase their meals from the student canteen or the full-service Chinese restaurant on campus, or at the large array of off-campus restaurants nearby. For more information, contact the Office of Study Abroad. .