上年四月上旬，與城大幾位學者和環球事務處的同事出訪東歐三國：匈牙利、塞爾維亞、捷克，意在與當地大學協商簽署交流生計劃，同時開拓招收東歐各國學生的途徑。在捷克首都布拉格時，走過橫跨在伏爾塔瓦河上的查理大橋。這座橋很出名，始建於1357年，至今已有660年歷史。凡是來到布拉格的外國人，不論是悠閒的遊客或行旅匆匆的商旅客，都會去橋上信步閒逛。面對兩岸旖旎的美景和哥德式、巴洛克式、文藝復興式古堡和其他建築，以及橋上的雕塑，人會情不自禁地停下腳步。在這個令人發楞發呆的好地方，同事建議拍一張合照，正在想找誰幫忙，就見一名年輕的華人女遊客經過。她欣然應允幫我們拍了照。拍完照後，竟然說她知道我們是來自香港的城大人。聊過才得知，她原來是城大商學院2012年畢業的校友，主修財會與法律。
異鄉遇校友
這樣的異鄉異地的偶然相遇，我已有過多次，而且愈來愈頻繁，有時是在機場，有時在出訪的大學校園裏，有時就在路上。遇到的人有些是城大校友，有些是來過城大的外國、外地交流生。雖然是偶然相遇，從概率上推論，這種偶然性中蘊含着某種必然性。
在城大，幾年前我們就在大學2016-19年學術發展計劃訂立目標，希望到了2019年，60%的城大本科生在四年求學期間有機會參加出國、出境遊學，其中包括國際交流、實習、聯合學位培養等。據2017年1月遞交的報告，已有50%的本科生有機會參加這類國際交流 。這次出訪東歐三國就是為了實現訂立的目標拓展機遇。經過協商，我們已經和匈牙利的布達佩斯技術與經濟大學簽署合作備忘錄，與捷克的查理大學交換學生並開展暑期交流活動，並和塞爾維亞的貝爾格萊德大學進行學術交流活動。可以預見，隨着城大赴外地和外地來城大的交流生人數日益增多，今後在東歐各國異域他鄉遇「同鄉」的事就會更常見了。
Serendipity on the Road
During visits to Czech Republic, Hungary and Serbia in early April this year with a delegation of CityU professors and colleagues from our Global Services Office, we signed student exchange agreements with local universities and, at the same time, looked for opportunities to recruit Eastern European students.
While in Prague, the capital of Czech Republic, we strolled across the famous Charles Bridge. Spanning the Vltava River, the bridge was built in 1357. Most foreigners visiting Prague, whether tourists or business travellers, take time to walk leisurely across the bridge. The beautiful scenery, colourful baroque buildings, Gothic churches, Renaissance castles and other buildings on both sides of the river, as well as the statues on the bridge make this ancient causeway a perfect place to relax.
A colleague suggested taking a group photo. Just as we were wondering who to ask for help, we saw a young Chinese tourist walking by. She was delighted to assist. After taking the picture, she told us that she was a CityU alumna! After chatting with her, we learned that she was a 2012 graduate from CityU’s College of Business, majoring in finance and law.
I have had quite a few similar unexpected encounters overseas, and with increasing frequency, sometimes at airports, sometimes on the campuses I am visiting, and sometimes just on the road. The people I meet are CityU alumni or exchange students from overseas or other parts of China who have been to CityU. Although these are unexpected encounters, there is an inevitability in such coincidences from a probability point of view.
At CityU, we have set a goal in our University’s 2016/19 academic development plan, hoping that by 2019, 60% of CityU’s undergraduates will have had the opportunity to participate in an overseas or an over-the-border study programme, including international exchanges, internships or joint-degree programmes.
The April visit to these three Eastern European countries was meant to cultivate such opportunities. After negotiations, we have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration with Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Hungary. We will also arrange student exchanges and summer exchange activities with Charles University in Czech Republic and academic exchanges with the University of Belgrade in Serbia. With the increase in the number of exchange students, either inbound or outbound, it is going to become even more likely that we bump into “compatriots” when we travel in Eastern European countries.
28 August, 2017
原文刊載於2017年8月28日 「校長網誌 – The Way」 。
