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Connectivity in Finance (“CIF”) is a three-day out-of-the-classroom event for HKU Business School students, which one can treat as a local field trip. The event was led by Professor Anna Wong, Programme Director of the Bachelor of Finance in Asset Management and Private Banking (BFin(AMPB)) and arranged primarily for the Year 1 and Year 2 Business School students who are interested in finance.  

 The CIF 2025 was hosted during the Reading Week between 10 and 12 March. A total of 58 students from all programmes participated, visiting and meeting senior government officials and banks/bankers covering private wealth management, asset management, and corporate and commercial banking. The students also have the opportunity to join a financial market trading workshop hosted by AmplifyME, giving them a taste of sales and trading.

 The event was well received by all the students, with some extracted comments quoted below:

 “The CIF programme was an incredible opportunity to deepen my understanding of the finance industry, build meaningful connections and develop practical skills. This experience has further fueled my passion for the industry, and I look forward to applying what I have learned as I continue my journey in finance.”

Jonathan Yau, BBA(IBGM) Year 2

 “The CIF has been a defining experience in my early career journey. Beyond the technical expertise, it instilled in me a profound respect for the human element in finance — whether in client relationships, cross-border collaborations or ethical stewardship of wealth.”

Stephanie Mak, BEcon&Fin Year 2

 “The programme provided invaluable exposure to the finance industry through bank visits and practitioner interactions. I particularly valued the rare opportunity to receive direct advice from professionals. During the AmplifyMe simulation, I have the opportunity to understand the difference between short-term trading and longer-term investment strategy and do appreciate the latter.”

Samantha Kwok, BFin(AMPB) Year 1

 “An event that fosters insight for prospective undergraduates to learn what it takes to be a Private Banker. Through deep sharing from esteemed individuals in this event, I can pinpoint my goals and realize the mindset I must adopt to understand clients, the markets and leverage ample opportunities for connections and learning.”

Jerry Ngo, BSc(QFin) Year 1

1. Meeting Senior Government Official – March 10 morning

Students met with Mr. Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, The Government of the HKSAR. Mr. Chan talked about the strengths and challenges of Hong Kong as an international financial centre and how students should prepare themselves in the midst of a challenging environment. Some comments from the participating students:

“The talk allowed for an understanding of the critical role that government policies play in shaping the financial landscape and ensuring economic stability.”

“The talk clearly shows the future job trend and government focus, such as green and sustainable finance and fintech.”

“I have a better understanding of the role that the Government plays and the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors in shaping effective financial policies.”

(Mr. Joseph Chan, Under Secretary for Financial Services and Treasury, sharing with HKU Business School students.)

2. Visiting Banks and Meeting Bank Executives

Students visited four banks in two days, having the opportunity to meet both senior executives as well as young talents of the bank. While listening to senior executive presentations is a good way to understand the business strategy and opportunities, the students treasured a lot on the “speed dating”, “small chit-chat”, and “drinking chat” with the young executives and division experts. Amazingly, some analysts we met are our recent BFin(AMPB) alumni.

We visited DBS Bank, Goldman Sachs, Julius Baer and Standard Chartered Bank. The hosting banks represented a spectrum of businesses and cultures. Students have the opportunity to learn about private banking at Julius Baer and Standard Chartered Bank, Corporate/Commercial Banking at DBS Bank and Wealth and Asset Management at Goldman Sachs.

• Standard Chartered Bank – April 10 afternoon

“I really loved the interactive private chit-chat session with the industry practitioners. It made the experience more unique and interactive.”

“My favourite session was the speed-dating for us to mingle with 6 mentors in 60 minutes; I raised questions for all 6 mentors and found their sharing to be very insightful.”

• DBS Bank – April 11 morning

“The session discussing how the bank competes with its competitors by integrating technology into its banking system is really an opener for me.”

“My biggest takeaway is the role of technology in banking and the digital transformation being the significant focus of the bank.”

• Julius Baer – April 11 afternoon

“My favourite part was the in-depth discussion on personalized wealth management strategies and how the bank tailors their services to meet individual client needs.”

“The sharing from the CEO is very encouraging and provides insights about the company’s responsibilities and goals.”

“The atmosphere in the office and the presentation style of the speakers made me interested in working in the bank.”

• Goldman Sachs – April 11 afternoon

“I really liked and enjoyed the BFin(AMPB) alumni sharing, which provided a good networking opportunity.   Their sharing on how they got the job and their daily routines at the wealth management division and asset management division were inspiring.”

“My favourite part of the talk was the insights into the bank’s approach to risk management and how they navigate market volatility to protect client investments.”

• Sales & Trading Simulation

Students participated in a one-day Financial Market Trading Workshop organized by AmplifyME, which featured Asset Management and Sales & Trading simulations used by top firms. The simulations offered a realistic glimpse into the roles of sales traders, market makers and asset managers. 

(Group photo of the participating students from the trading simulation workshop.)

“It provided students with a good understanding of the dynamics between the buy side and sell side in finance and gave them hands-on experience bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application.”

Connectivity in Finance (“CIF”) is an annual event. If you have missed the opportunity this year, do watch out for the next offering in March 2026!