Programme exploring GBA calls for applications from UK undergraduate students

On the Agenda

Touching the Greater Bay Area – A Journey of Discovery, the latest programme co-launched by Guangdong Radio and Television and People’s Daily Online (UK), is calling for applications to take part in an “engaging journey” across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) in China, the state daily reported last week.

The GBA, situated in south China, is composed of nine cities in Guangdong Province and two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

According to the state media, “The programme will invite ten UK students to embark on a 7-day in-depth journey to this vibrant city cluster” between July 15 and Aug. 15, 2024.

Participants will access a wide range of points of interest from historic landmarks to bustling street markets and to delve into various topics from Chinese martial arts to the latest telecommunication and green technology. In addition, there will be many opportunities for them to engage with local university students across the region.

Participants are expected to be part of the programme televised through multiple channels, record their journey on video and share it on social media platforms, the People’s Daily said.

Candidates should be non-Chinese full-time undergraduate students enrolled at a university in the UK. There are no specific constraints on their majors.

Also, candidates should also have “an active and curated social media presence.” Though a big following is not a must, “any experience with vlogging and engaging with followers will be a plus.”

Last but not least, candidates must show “a passion for Chinese language or culture, but proficiency in the language is not required.”

The paper added that, all expenses for the trip, “all fees from international flights to food and accommodation will be covered by the sponsors.”

As of the latest official data, there are over 22 thousand international students in universities across Guangdong province. The largest groups come from South Korea, Thailand, and Russia, with substantial numbers also arriving from Vietnam and Indonesia. Students from nearby regions, such as Hong Kong and Macau, also contribute notably to the international student body in Guangdong.