CityUHK student interns at the University of Oxford and participates in a machine learning research project

Recognised as the Most International University in the World by Times Higher Education (THE) in 2024, City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is committed to offering overseas exchange and internship opportunities for students to explore the world and broaden their horizons. He Siyu, a Year 3 student in the Bachelor of Engineering in Computer and Data Engineering programme, interned at the University of Oxford this summer. She participated in a machine learning research project, further enhancing her academic knowledge and interest.

Nominated by the Department of Electrical Engineering, Siyu, who has excelled academically, received a scholarship from CityUHK to participate in a two-month internship with the Numerical Analysis and Data Science Group of the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford. Under the supervision of Professor Terry Lyons and Professor Coralia Cartis of the Institute, Siyu engaged in a research project related to path signatures and natural language processing and enhanced her knowledge in machine learning. “This internship aligned very well with my academic interests and was an invaluable experience,” said Siyu. “As the only undergraduate student in the group, I was honoured to have the opportunity to learn from the PhD students, who are at the forefront of contemporary mathematical development, and to experience the research atmosphere at a world-class university.” 
 

During the internship, Siyu found that the University of Oxford provides students with ample academic freedom and encourages them to develop their personal research interests. “Before the internship, Professor Lyons and Professor Cartis first enquired about my main areas of interest, gave clear directions, and then assigned research projects that matched my interest. I was inspired by each conversation with the professors and gained a lot of confidence to work on the research areas that I am passionate about,” said Siyu.
 

The internship experience at the University of Oxford has helped Siyu plan her future development. She hopes to pursue a master's degree after obtaining a bachelor's degree, focusing on fields such as large language models, machine learning and data science. Reflecting on when she first entered the University, Siyu mentioned that she did not have a clear development direction at the time, but she believes that the learning experience at CityUHK cultivated her academic interest in data engineering, machine learning and artificial intelligence, inspiring innovative thinking. She specifically highlighted that the Computer and Data Engineering programme emphasises both theory and practice, covering knowledge of both hardware and software. This includes hardware content, such as electrical engineering theory, computer systems and chip design, and software content, like algorithms, statistics, machine learning, cloud computing and cybersecurity. "The professors guide us to think deeply about the subjects in class, emphasising the cultivation of students' analytical and innovative abilities, and training us to think like engineers, behave like engineers,” said Siyu.

In addition to being a top student in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Siyu serves as a student mentor, helping junior students adapt to university life and sharing her learning experiences with them. She encourages freshmen to be bold in trying new things and to seize the opportunities for overseas exchanges and internships provided by the University to widen their horizons and better understand their interests and aspirations.

The College of Engineering of CityUHK launched the Pathway for Research, Innovation and Multinational Engineering (PRIME) Flagship Programme in the 2024/25 academic year. Students admitted to the programme can choose a major from any of the six departments of the College of Engineering. Eligible students will have an opportunity to take part in a research internship at a top overseas university or to get work experience at an international company in Year 3 or 4.

Besides the PRIME programme, CityUHK introduced three other Flagship Programmes in the 2024/25 academic year to empower students with vital knowledge and skills, cultivate their global leadership abilities, and connect them with leading professionals. The programmes are Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, BBA Global Business, and Global Research Enrichment and Technopreneurship.

Starting from the 2025/26 academic year, the Flagship Programmes will be expanded to nine programmes, adding BSocSc Psychology [Stream: Wellbeing Enhancement and Care Management (WE-CARE) Programme], Creative Arts and Technology Excellence, Data Empowerment: Learn, Transform and Achieve, International Sustainability Programme for Innovation, Research and Entrepreneurship, and Bachelor of Laws.

Eligible students admitted to the Flagship Programmes will be awarded the Flagship Scholarships, covering full or half tuition and hall fees, a guaranteed berth, and a one-off overseas exchange sponsorship of up to HK$500,000. They can also receive guaranteed admission to the respective PhD programme in Science/Engineering or the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws upon attainment of the entrance requirements. For more information on the Flagship Programmes and Flagship Scholarships, please visit the following website.