This week was the first week of Trinity term and it marked the start of our Hong Kong Officer Professional Development Programme too - we are delighted to welcome a new group of ten officials from Hong Kong to the School and to Oxford.

Now in its second year, this bespoke professional development programme runs for a period of eight weeks and gives mid-level young civil servants from the Hong Kong Government the opportunity to join the Blavatnik School of Government as visiting fellows.

This year the Hong Kong Government Fellows are coming to Oxford from a wide variety of roles in their home city, from fire services and welfare, to commerce and renewable energy to name a few. They will attend dedicated lectures, events and seminars that will help them further develop their understanding of public policy and administration, political economy and international relations. They will also take part in classes with our MPP students, develop research, and receive tailored professional mentorship through our faculty members.

"It's great to be able to welcome the Hong Kong Government Fellows to the School”, said Dr Michael Sanders, the academic lead for the programme and Fellow of Practice at the Blavatnik School of Government. “These fellows represent some of the future leaders of the Hong Kong civil service. We hope that while they're here they're able to learn lessons that will stand them in good stead when they return home, and that they will enrich the school with their knowledge and experience while they are with us."

As part of the programme, the Fellows will also be spending time discovering the city of Oxford and its history (including activities such as punting on the river Thames) and engaging with the wider University. A field trip to London and a visit to the Houses of Parliament will also help them understand the political history and culture of the UK.

Image: The 2016 Hong Kong Government Fellows with some members of Blavatnik School faculty