HKU hosts Cultural Carnival to welcome international students

The Hong Kong University receives a record-breaking number of more than 28,000 non-local undergraduate applications for this academic year.

To foster integration among students from diverse backgrounds, the university hosts a Cultural Carnival.

Traditional lion dance performance by the HKU Lion Dance Team kicks off the Cultural Carnival at Hong Kong University.

Ethnic minority groups also doing catwalk in traditional costumes.

The event features various booths showcasing traditional cultures from all around the world.

SABA ISSAC BRICE, Freshman from Burkina Faso says "What I'm wearing right now is called Fasu Damfani. It's a symbol of pride in my country, as we wear it everyday in almost every opportunity, and it's handmade. Coming here as an international student from Burkina Faso, it really helps me show my identity as I did today during the walk, and I'm really proud to do so."

HKU reports non-local undergraduate applications for this academic year have hit a record high of more than 28,000.

Among them, applications from international undergraduate students surged by 77%.

BENNETT YIM, Director of Undergraduate Admissions and International Student Exchange says " This year we are fortunate to have hit around 1,800 non-local student, and we have over 700 of them actually from outside of Hong Kong and also outside of mainland China. In total, these 1,800 students actually come from 66 different country and region. So we are very pleased to see the diversity of students joining our university, and this is one of the kind of record that we have achieved in recent year. "

The university hopes such cultural booths with traditional food from different countries will help locals and international freshmen adapt to multicultural campus life.