Join STEP to Kick-start your Innovative, Start-up and Entrepreneurial Journey!
Programme Aims & Objectives
The Start-up Technology Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) aims to offer CityUHK undergraduate students a unique opportunity to participate in entrepreneurial activities in industrial settings or business organizations at top start-up locations in Mainland China and/or overseas countries. Through STEP, students can gain valuable hands-on experience, practical understanding, and exposure to diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems across the globe. They acquire insights into running a tech startup, including fundraising, marketing, operation, product development, etc. and understand the various issues involved in developing a viable venture. STEP offers students exposure to the forefront of technologies and innovative business models, and integrate classroom knowledge with real-world applications.
STEP is one of the innovative programmes offered by the CityUHK Academy of Innovation (“CAI”), in collaboration with the College of Business, College of Engineering and College of Science, the first cohort of STEP is expected to commence in Semester B 2024/25.
CAI serves as a testament to CityUHK's commitment to develop a leading ecosystem that nurtures young entrepreneurs, incubates deep-tech start-ups, and promotes university-industry collaboration in Hong Kong and beyond. More details about CAI can be found at CityU Academy of Innovation.
- FS4007: Start-up Technology Entrepreneur Programme I
- FS4008: Start-up Technology Entrepreneur Programme II
Remarks: Both course syllabi are subject to final approval from the University
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the STEP courses, students should be able to:
- Identify, demonstrate and practise the soft skills that are required at workplace
- Describe the setting of the industry and the operations of the host company
- Identify and practise the roles of professionals in the industry and entrepreneurial ecosystems
- Apply and integrate the knowledge acquired in classroom at workplace and offer innovative preliminary business solutions
Course Structure
Students will be placed into a company or organization for three or six months of full-time attachment or internship during the academic terms. Before the attachment or internship, students will participate in the pre-attachment or internship training workshops. During the attachment or internship, students will join review sessions and post-attachment or internship activities to help them identify adjustment issues in the workplace and ways to improve job performance. At the end of the attachment or internship, students are required to prepare and submit a report or final presentation to complete the programme.
Course Details
Attachment/Internship Period and Duration:
- 3 months (3 Credit Units)
- Semester B (February – April)
- Summer Term (June – August)
- Semester A (September – November)
- 6 months (6 Credit Units)
- Semester B and Summer Term (February – August)
- Summer Term and Semester A (July – December)
Attachment/Internship Type: Face-to-face
Job Nature/Job Field: Artificial Intelligence, Business Operations, Big Data, Computer and Data Engineering, Data Analysis and Research, Electronic and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources and Administration, Information Technology (IT), Marketing, Public Relations, and more.
Remuneration: Discretionary basis by hosting companies
Eligibility:
- Year 2, 3 or penultimate year students who are studying a full-time UGC-funded Bachelor's degree programme in the College of Engineering
- Proficient in written and verbal communication in Chinese
Remarks: Exchange students, associate degree and postgraduate degree students are not eligible to apply for STEP.
Schedule
| Phases | Key Activities | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Online application | Application Deadline: 29 September 2024 |
| Selection and Matching | Screening, Nomination and Selection Period | October – November 2024 |
| Pre-Attachment/ Internship | Pre- Attachment/ Internship Briefing Session | December 2024 – January 2025 |
| Attachment/ Internship Period | Attachment/ Internship Period | February – April 2025 / February – August 2025 |
| Post-Attachment/ Internship Review | Company Evaluation, Final Presentation and/or Report | May 2025 / Late August 2025 |
Financial Support
Financial Allowance: STEP subsidy will be available, subject to the satisfactory completion of the programme and meeting relevant requirements.
- The subsidy will be granted and released to students by installments;
- Subsidy is up to HKD 8,000 maximum* (for Beijing) per month or prorated, subject to the internship period and location; and
- Airfare (one round-trip in economy class) will be reimbursed based on actual expenses.
*Remarks: If the host company provides remuneration, accommodation/airfare/allowance to students, the amount of CAI allowance will be reduced.
Pre-Departure Details
Flight and Accommodation:
Students are responsible for arranging their flights and accommodation for their stay in the internship location for the entire period.
Travel Documents and Visa:
Students are responsible for obtaining the correct visa, passport, and other necessary personal travel documents for their stay in the destination and will bear the associated cost.
Insurance:
- Students will be covered by the University's Group Personal Accident Insurance and Group Travel Insurance Policy throughout their stay overseas, provided that they depart from Hong Kong to the host destination. For details, please visit the website of the Finance Office.
- In addition to the University ’s provision, students are advised to purchase additional personal travel insurance.
Notes:Students are responsible for their own living expenses, including meals and transportation. Students must ensure sufficient funds for living outside Hong Kong for the entire period.
Hosting Companies
Hosting Companies in BEIJING (including but not limited to):
HICOOL
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HICOOL brand was established in 2020, it is an all-in-one startup ecosystem managed by Beijing Overseas Talents Association, introducing and servicing entrepreneurial talents through the Competition and Summit, empowering technology-based startups, and encouraging innovations by value creation. HICOOL has built 6 business units, including the Competition/Summit, the Business College, the Industrial Park, the Service Manager, the Investment Fund, and the HICOOL@ONLINE Digital Platform. Through the multi-dimensional and international service matrix, HICOOL facilitates entrepreneurs and startups to base and develop in Beijing. Based on the global partnership networks, HICOOL has built an information and resource matchmaking platform for the startup ecosystem. All parties on value chain can connect to each other through the services of HICOOL.
Selected CityUHK undergraduates will have the opportunity to intern at outstanding start-ups in the HICOOL ecosystem in Beijing to gain valuable hands-on experience and broaden their horizons to the diverse global start-up ecosystems. For more details, please visit https://www.hicool.com/web/#/.
HICOOL品牌創立於2020年，是由北京海外高層次人才協會作為主辦方的一站式創業生態平台，以科技賦能創業，用價值驅動創新。HICOOL旗下建設了包括全球創業者峰會暨創業大賽、管家、商學院、基金、產業園、數字化平台等六個板塊。HICOOL面向全球尋找優質企業，通過多維度和國際化的創業服務體系，幫助創業者和初創企業在北京落地和快速發展。
經篩選的城大本科生將有機會前往位於北京的HICOOL生態平台上的優秀初創企業進行實習，以獲取寶貴的實踐經驗，同時擴闊視野，接觸全球多樣化的初創生態系統。
關於HICOOL更多資料，請瀏覽 https://www.hicool.com。
Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (also called Beijing E-Town)
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Beijing E-Town is the only national-level economic-technological development area in Beijing, and it serves as a crucial gateway for the capital city's reform. Beijing E-Town has cultivated four key industries leading the way in innovation: next-generation IT, high-end automobiles and new-energy vehicles, biotech, health and wellness, as well as robotics and smart manufacturing with a scale of four hundred billion. In 2023, Beijing E-Town achieved a regional GDP of over 280 billion and an industrial output value exceeding 520 billion, contributing nearly 30% of the city's industrial-added value while occupying just 0.35% of Beijing's land. The area also surpassed 100 billion in fixed asset investment, with industrial investment exceeding 60 billion, ranking among the top three in the city. Currently, Beijing E-Town is home to more than 90,000 market corporations, including over 100 of the world's top 500 enterprises and more than 2,100 national high-tech enterprises, which is 1.6 times the number of national high-tech enterprises in other areas.
Beijing E-Town welcomes CityUHK undergraduates who are interested in innovation and entrepreneurship to intern with science and technology enterprises in the area. This opportunity will help broaden their global vision and provide practical understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems. For more details, please visit http://www.beijingetown.com.cn/.
北京經濟技術開發區 (又稱北京亦莊)
北京經濟技術開發區是北京市唯一的國家級經濟技術開發區。目前經開區已經培育出新一代信息技術、高端汽車和新能源智能汽車、生物技術和大健康、機器人與智能製造四個千億級規模的產業集群。2023年，亦莊新城實現地區生產總值2800多億元，完成工業產值5200多億元，以北京0.35%的土地貢獻全市近30%的工業增加值，固定資產投資突破千億大關，其中產業投資超600億元，總量位列全市三甲。目前，全區共有市場主體超9萬家，世界500強企業超過100家，國家高新企業突破2100家，每萬戶企業國家高新數為全市平均水平的1.6倍，北京市級「專精特新」中小企業突破650家，其中，國家級專精特新「小巨人」企業超過100家。
Application Details
Apply online: Click here
Application Deadline: 29 September 2024, HKT 23:59
Notes: You will be asked to upload a CV/resume and grade display report to your online application.
Contact Us
If you are interested in knowing more about the STEP programme, please contact Co-operative Education Centre at secentre@cityu.edu.hk for assistance.
For enquiries on STEP subsidy, please contact CAI office at cai@cityu.edu.hk for assistance.
CityU Academy of Innovation (CAI) reserves all rights to final decisions in this programme, and arrangements are subject to change by CAI should the need arise.
