Sophia Lim is one of the first cohorts of students of the World Bachelor in Business (WBB) undergraduate program, a pioneering business degree jointly offered by universities across three continents. Sophia and 40 of her classmates completed their freshman year this summer in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California (USC), and now the program has taken them to Hong Kong for their second year of study at HKUST. In the third year, they will move on to Bocconi University in Milan, Italy, and in the final year they will select from any of the three partner universities to complete their four-year learning journey.
Sophia couldn’t decide between the US and Hong Kong for her university education when she was in her last year of high school. She wanted to take an adventure in the US but also wanted to stay closer to her family in Hong Kong.
“The launch of the WBB program in 2013 gave a timely option for me to strike a balance: a bit of adventure and a bit of home time as well as gaining a degree from three highly regarded universities across three continents,” she said.
Sophia, who was born in Hong Kong and raised in Shanghai, grew up in a big and supportive family with two siblings, 22 cousins, eight aunts and four uncles. At the very beginning of the program she clearly understood that the whole WBB class needed a similar tight-knit connection and mutual support to get through their four years of study in a “moving” learning environment.
Gaining a Truly Global Experience
During high school, Sophia studied at an international school in Shanghai that required all students to be foreign-passport holders. At the time, Sophia thought the student blend was pretty diverse. But after a year at USC Sophia realized what “true diversity” was after she met people from lesser-known countries.
On top of the curriculum and many out-of-classroom activities, the first WBB cohort also started a language learning group to teach each other Mandarin and Italian. They hope that this will not only prepare them for living in Hong Kong and Milan, but also create an environment to exchange their many distinctive experiences, cultures and traditions.
“The highlight has been getting to spend time with my fellow WBB classmates because each has a unique background and stories to share,” she said. “Watching us go from a group of strangers to a big family has been one of my favorite experiences in the program.”
Building a Global Network
Sophia believes that the WBB program opens up a network of opportunities for her to build many global connections. She said she can learn from the three schools and get connected to the world.
Looking ahead at HKUST, Sophia said she is happy to get closer to her family in the coming year. Above all, she looks forward to sharing her Chinese experience and its rich culture with her classmates.
“I’m excited to render the similar support I got from my fellow classmates in LA. I will show them around, share tips about the city, and if needed, be their interpreter,” she said.
The three-continent learning experience offered by the WBB cultivates students’ understanding of the business practices, economies and cultures in different regions. In addition to the US, the students will experience a unique fusion of East and West at HKUST, while at Bocconi University they can take a closer look at the integrated Europe. These valuable insights are set to help students pursue a career in an increasingly globalized business environment.
Sophia is only a second-year student and has not thought much about where and what she will do in the future, but is convinced that the WBB program will position her to work anywhere in the world and give her yet another “bigger lifelong family”.