Goodbye LA, Next Stop Hong Kong

"Brave pioneers" was how Andrea Sironi, Rector of Bocconi, had described them at the beginning of their program. These pioneers in the first cohort of the World Bachelor in Business have completed the first stage of  their educational journey. The program was created by Bocconi, the University of Southern California (USC) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and allows participants to study in 3 continents and get 3 degrees. It begins in Los Angeles, moves for the second year to Hong Kong and then to Bocconi for the third.  For the fourth and final year, students can choose between the three universities.
 

One among the group of 42 young people from 13 countries in North America, Europe and Asia, is Sofia Gazzotti from Bologna, who will turn 20 in a few days. "I chose the WBB because there is no other course that would allow me to have such an international experience in 3 important places in the world economy. And the chance to do it with a small group of kids from all over the world, who remain together throughout the program,  was reassuring, "she says.
 

The participants found themselves thrown together in Los Angeles last August for the start of the program. "Arriving at USC, we were in awe before the size and vitality of the campus - with all the activities and sports offered," says Sofia. "We dove in with enthusiasm - alternating time within the WBB group with  many opportunities to socialize with USC students. Even in the classroom we had a course per semester just for us WBB students with lots of group work that helped us bond, while all the other courses were with other students, which made our integration into campus life easier. "
 

"The work in the classroom has been very challenging, condsidering the need to become familiar with the language. But in addition to this commitment, the university offered many opportunities for extracurricular activities. For example, I worked with the WBB admissions office at USC as a Student Ambassador, I met the fascinating world of sororities, I helped to organize a film festival on campus and I did a research project  with a professor on treatises by Henry Mintzberg on the various managerial roles.  I was not able to participate in the study tour to Buenos Aires for WBB students, but those who went  were very enthusiastic about it. "
 

"A year together, where we bonded very intensely lived both on and off campus. Los Angeles is almost too big,  but there is practically no winter, and that makes it lovely, "says Sofia. "We know that next year will be a busy one, with very high standards of mathematics and computer science, but it will be interesting to get to know Hong Kong and check out other cities in the region."
 

Now the students are dispersed throughout the world for a few weeks. Excluding a group of European students who will meet in Milan on 9 June for a week of in-company training organized by Bocconi with visits to various companies. The following appointment for all the group is 25 August in Hong Kong for a week of orientation before the first classroom lesson at the beginning of September. 

 

"Meanwhile, as a group we keep in touch on Facebook and a guy in Hong Kong provides us with valuable information. Some other students and I have already begun to study Chinese at USC, in a course offered as an 'elective' two hours a week. Preparing for exams, learning to read and write Chinese characters, it was pretty difficult, but now I feel a little more ready, "says Sofia.