Hong Kong University | China Business Program

Scala Consulting partnered with a Hong Kong University to support students from its Master of China Business program in securing meaningful internships in Shanghai. The initiative sought to bridge classroom learning with real-world business experience—connecting academic knowledge to actionable career development in China’s dynamic corporate environment.

Objective

The program aimed to provide students with direct exposure to the Chinese business landscape, offering them opportunities to gain hands-on experience within local companies across sectors relevant to their studies. The goal was not only to enrich learning, but to lay the groundwork for long-term employability in Greater China.

Our Approach

Scala served as both a talent bridge and cultural integrator, ensuring alignment between student goals and company needs:

• Internship Placement: Matched high-potential students with trusted Chinese firms across sectors including finance, e-commerce, logistics, and consumer goods. Each placement was curated to ensure relevance to the students’ academic focus and professional ambitions.
• Onboarding and Localization Support: Provided students with pre-internship briefings and soft-landing resources to help them adapt to Shanghai’s corporate and cultural environment.
• Employer Engagement: Actively liaised with host companies to ensure meaningful work scopes and feedback loops that enhanced both employer satisfaction and student learning outcomes.

Results

The internship program has had a measurable impact on career trajectories:

• Graduate Employment: Several students converted their internships into full-time offers and have since begun long-term roles in Shanghai—validating the program’s role as a launchpad for cross-border careers.
• Institutional Trust: The program reinforced the Hong Kong University’s commitment to delivering practical, outcome-oriented education, enhancing its employer reputation in China.