Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Bilingual Interdisciplinary Chinese Studies (BICS)

Work-Integrated Education

Objectives

Work-Integrated Education (WIE) is a critical component of PolyU’s undergraduate curriculum. Launched in 2005, this initiative aims to strengthen students’ all-round developments as well as their professional trainings before they enter into the fast-changing and ever competitive work environments.

At the Department of Chinese Culture, all BICS students must enroll in this subject under the code of CC313 in order to engage in a 160-hour placement, which will give them 3 credits in return before their graduations. While students are responsible for identifying and applying for internship positions themselves, CC’s WIE Coordinator and the workplaces’ supervisors play special roles in overseeing or shaping students’ WIE experiences.

BACHC Students: All students must fulfill the 3 “WIE credits” in order to graduate.
For 4 years programme: you are recommended to complete this requirement during summer term of the second or third year.
For SY programme: you are recommended to complete this requirement during the summer term of the first year.

160-hour internship through one or two placements (for the latter, 80 hours each);
Full-time or part-time; locally, mainland, or international;
Possible areas:

Museum and cultural heritage
Library and archive
Arts and creative work
Media and publishing
Public relations and marketing
Education, philanthropy, non-governmental organization (NGO)
Government and administration
Religious institute
Social work or public service
Corporation (medical, commercial, financial)

Submit a WIE Application Form (either by email or in person) to the department’s General Office at least one week before starting the internship. The office will then forward the form to CHC’s WIE Coordinator for approval.
Complete the 160-hour internship(s).
Before the internship’s last day, seek your supervisor to complete the WIE Assessment Report for evaluating your work performance.
After finishing WIE, submit the following documents to the department’s General Office (either by email or in person) within 2 weeks:

WIE Work Record
WIE Assessment Report / WIE Assessment Report (Chinese)
Student WIE Written Report (Photo or video recordings (if any))

The General Office will then forward the documents to CHC’s WIE Coordinator for examination. Either a pass or a fail will be given based on the WIE Portfolio.

What activities will be counted as WIE?

I had work experience before entering PolyU, can I use it to apply for WIE?
How can I apply for an internship? Will the department provide internship opportunity?

https://www.polyu.edu.hk/sao/careers-and-placement-section/plan-for-your-careers/

Dr. LAU Kai Yiu (WIE Coordinator)

Email: kaiyiu.lau@polyu.edu.hk

Tel: (852) 3400 8935

Ms. Verna SO (Assistant Executive Officer)

Email: verna.so@polyu.edu.hk

Tel: (852) 3400 8929

Our department welcomes all kinds of organizations to approach us for exploring possible collaborations in which our students may play a role in your works or projects, whether full-time or part-time, locally or non-locally. Interested parties may contact:

Dr. LAU Kai Yiu (WIE Coordinator)

Email: kaiyiu.lau@polyu.edu.hk

Tel: (852) 3400 8935

Ms. Verna SO (Assistant Executive Officer)

Email: verna.so@polyu.edu.hk

Tel: (852) 3400 8929

Information

BICS Students

BICS students must fulfill the 3 “WIE credits” in order to graduate. Ideally, they should complete this requirement during the summer of their first year; if not, by the end of their second year’s first semester. Extension will be considered in special conditions.

Requirement

160-hour internship through one or two placements (for the latter, 80 hours each);
Full-time or part-time; locally, mainland, or international;
Possible areas:
- Museum or cultural heritage
- Library or archive
- Research
- Arts and creative industry
- Public relations and marketing
- Government and administration
- Education, philanthropy, or non-governmental organization
- Religious institute
- Social or public service
- Corporation and enterprise

Funding (for Offshore Placements only)

PolyU’s Careers and Placement Section (CSP) of the Student Affairs Office (SAO) offers different levels of Offshore WIE Sponsorship (OWS) to students who are completing their WIE outside Hong Kong. The sponsorship amounts are granted upon the internship’s destination and duration. Students are expected to cover the remainder of the expenses incurred. For more information, please check out SAO’s website: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/sao/cps/wie/about-wie/sponsorships-for-offshore-placements/offshore-wie-sponsorship-ows/

Suggested Timeline

Timeline	Procedures
First Year’s Sem. 2	Search and apply for internships. Submit a WIE Application Form (either by email or in person) to the department’s General Office at least one week before starting the internship. The office will then forward the form to CC’s WIE Coordinator for approval and purchasing related insurance.
First Year’s Summer (or before the end of Second Year’s Sem. 1)	Complete the 160-hour internship(s). Before the internship’s last day, seek your supervisor to complete the WIE Assessment Report for evaluating your work performance.
After finishing WIE	Submit the following documents to the department’s General Office (either by email or in person) within 2 weeks: WIE Work Record WIE Assessment Report Student WIE Written Report Photo or video recordings (if any) The General Office will then forward the documents to CC’s WIE Coordinator for examination. Either a pass or a fail will be given based on the WIE Portfolio-WIE Coordinator Evaluation.

Timeline

Procedures

First Year’s Sem. 2

Search and apply for internships.
Submit a WIE Application Form (either by email or in person) to the department’s General Office at least one week before starting the internship. The office will then forward the form to CC’s WIE Coordinator for approval and purchasing related insurance.

First Year’s Summer (or before the end of Second Year’s Sem. 1)

Complete the 160-hour internship(s).
Before the internship’s last day, seek your supervisor to complete the WIE Assessment Report for evaluating your work performance.

After finishing WIE

Submit the following documents to the department’s General Office (either by email or in person) within 2 weeks:
- WIE Work Record
- WIE Assessment Report
- Student WIE Written Report
- Photo or video recordings (if any)

The General Office will then forward the documents to CC’s WIE Coordinator for examination. Either a pass or a fail will be given based on the WIE Portfolio-WIE Coordinator Evaluation.

FAQs

What activities will be counted as WIE?
Generally speaking, all jobs that allow students to apply their professional or language skills acquired through the BICS programme can be considered for WIE. Since each job is unique itself, students should check with the department General Office or WIE Coordinator by providing relevant information and details.
I had work experience before entering PolyU, can I use it to apply for WIE?
No. Only work experience acquired during your study at PolyU will be considered.
How can I apply for an internship? Will the department provide internship opportunity?
Students are responsible for applying internship opportunities themselves. For local work opportunities, check out PolyU Job Board and emails from Careers and Placement Section (CSP). For offshore ones, check out CPS’s Mainland WIE and International WIE internship programmes before the deadlines.

Employer

Ms. Nicole Chan (Assistant Executive Officer)
Email: nicole.yb.chan@polyu.edu.hk
Tel: (852) 3400 8949

Dr. Kathy Mak (WIE Coordinator)
Email: kathy.mak@polyu.edu.hk
Tel: (852) 3400 8938

Student Experiences

The adventure at Brianstorm offered me the opportunity to explore myself. I gained much knowledge from different areas while being a project coordinator intern and participating in different kinds of events. It enriched my working experiences and led me to step into a whole new area. Moreover, it gave me a chance to demonstrate my strengths and improve my weaknesses. I truly appreciate the kindness and sincere teachings from the two founders. The opportunities that they provided to me and my two other classmates have allowed us to explore and discover more possibilities for ourselves.

Belle Chu Mei Yiu

Brianstorm Content Solutions, Hong Kong

My WIE goal was to challenge myself, to learn how to work as a teammate. I am happy to work as an intern at the Shanghai Film Museum. I believe that this internship really taught me the importance of teamwork. Sometimes I needed to work at weekends, but I still think this is the most unique experience that I have ever had.

Wong Yan Ting

Shanghai Film Museum

The internship in Nanjing offered me a unique experience for navigating my future career path. After the internship at the Nanjing Presidential Palace, I realized that being a tour guide in a museum or a heritage park can be a potential work for me because I am confident that I can handle the job well.

Sin Mei Fung

Nanjing Presidential Palace

My academic background has helped me as an intern. I learned about Buddhism in a BICS subject about modern religions in Year 3. I was able to apply the knowledge and vocabulary that I have learned in my translation project during the internship.

Law Cheuk Ying Sharon

Blue Ocean Network, Beijing

My job duties included assisting teachers to teach English in classes, preparing English conversation corners and practicing skills that they have learned during the week, and scheduling meetings with teachers once a week to develop the teaching materials.
Students in my school had never seen Chinese people in person before. In my first few days, I was a superstar! Everyone wanted to take a photo with me and get my signature. I started my internship in a resounding cheer.

Lee Fung Kai, Pansy

I.E Modesto Basadre, Tacna, Peru

The Beijing summer internship was full of pleasure. All of my colleagues and my supervisor were very kind and patient to me. From them, I learned dedication and serious attitude to job. Their guidance helped enrich my knowledge about journalism and broaden my horizons. My communication skills have been strengthened through various interviews and appointments.

Li Nanxun, Agnes

The Economic Observer, Beijing

My job was to conduct research and conservation on-site. I have participated in several projects, including Wong Uk Village in Sha Tin, I Shing Temple and the Tang Ancestral Hall, both in Yuen Long, and Hung Shing Temple in Ap Lei Chau.
After my internship at the Conservation Office, I understood that conservation is a combination of tradition and science.

Ng Lok Yung

Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s Conservation Office, Hong Kong

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