HKU International Business and Global Management (IBGM)

On Day 5, the IBGM students traded the city’s bustling streets for the tranquil waters of the Mekong Delta. This day was an authentic immersion into local life, exploring the floating villages. A standout moment was visiting Alluvia Chocolatier and learning about their “Farm to Bar” process.

On Day 6 the students dressed in their traditional Áo Dài attire, allowing them to experience the beauty of traditional dress personally. The day kicked off with a talk from Mr. McClellan, CEO of V-IFC, who shared insights on the trajectory of Vietnam’s economic development. This was followed by the final presentations which showcased everything they had learnt and sharpened their presentation skills. The IBGM students then visited the HKUVN Office and were welcomed into the world of Vietnamese finance with an exclusive session at Mirae Asset, learning how this Korean powerhouse is shaping the region. It all culminated in a beautiful Farewell Dinner at Heli Garden, where they celebrated the learning and the incredible bonds formed over the past week.

Thank you to FBE, the professors, the cameramen, and the amazing hosts in Vietnam for an unforgettable experience.

Học mà chơi, chơi mà học.

The IBGM cohort continued their immersive journey through Vietnam — bridging cultural understanding with professional insight.

Day 3 kicked off with an energetic scavenger hunt through the vibrant streets of Ho Chi Minh City, navigating local markets and cultural landmarks. The experience wasn’t just about competition — it was about teamwork, communication, and collaborative planning. The evening was capped by the breathtaking VietCharm Cultural Show and Dinner — a mesmerizing performance celebrating Vietnam’s rich heritage.

The next day, they stepped into the offices of three industry leaders shaping Vietnam’s economic future: FPT, SSI Securities, and World Bank IFC.

💻 FPT Corporation – Mr. Them Do walked them through the digital transformation driving Vietnam’s tech sector, with a deep dive into FPT Automotive’s innovation journey.

📊 SSI Securities Corporation – Ms. Huỳnh Bảo Trân and Ms. Hoàng Linh offered an insider perspective on Vietnam’s potential upgrade to Secondary Emerging Market status — and what that means for investors, markets, and the nation’s financial trajectory.

🏛️ IFC – International Finance Corporation (World Bank) – Mr. Shehryar Ali Shah provided a macro-level view on Vietnam’s development strategy, foreign investment landscape, and the role of international institutions in shaping emerging economies.

Stay tuned for more highlights from the Vietnam adventure!

The first-year IBGM cohort has touched down in Vietnam for the 2026 Asia-Pacific Study Tour — a week of business immersion, cultural discovery, and professional growth in one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economies.

Day 1 began with a welcome dinner at Home Saigon and a city sightseeing tour aboard a double-decker bus — a first glimpse of the energy and scale of Ho Chi Minh City by night.

Day 2 took the cohort north to Binh Duong, one of Vietnam's flagship industrial zones, for a full day of hands-on learning and industry engagement.

🎓 The morning kicked off with an interactive Six Thinking Hats workshop at Eastern International University, where the group collaborated with local EIU peers on structured problem-solving and creative thinking.

🏭 After a tour of the EIU campus and an introduction to the Becamex ecosystem — one of Vietnam's largest developers of integrated industrial parks, now expanding into smart-city infrastructure, data centers, and applied AI for industrial operations — they visited the Advanced Manufacturing Center (ASPIRE), where Mr. Kieu Manh Kha shared how Becamex is embedding digital transformation and smart manufacturing across its industrial zones.

⚡ The day wrapped up at Vietnam Singapore Smart Energy Solutions, exploring the intersection of sustainability and industrial development in Vietnam's energy landscape.

Stay tuned for more highlights from the study tour!

Celebrating 20 years of BBA(IBGM) 🎉🎉 — two decades of global perspectives, close-knit bonds, and unforgettable memories. From the early cohorts to today's students and alumni, IBGM has grown into a community built on shared experiences, meaningful friendships, and a passion for seeing the world differently. It was a special evening celebrating the programme's journey, the people who shaped it, and the launch of the BBA(IBGM) Alumni Chapter — an exciting new chapter for an already thriving community. Here's to the impact IBGM has made so far, and to many more years of connection, growth, and success ahead.

Congratulations to our IBGMers, Christopher Yan, Matt Tam, Duncan Wong and team-mate Rian Hariani.

Following an intense 48-hour case competition recently, their team “Imperium Victoriam” has achieved:

🥇 Champion – HICS Internal Case Practice 2
🥈 1st Runner-Up – HKU x CUHK Joint School Case Competition

These IBGMers have pushed themselves beyond their limits, inspired fresh perspectives, and created unforgettable memories. Their dedication and resilience do not go unnoticed.

Over eight months in HICS, the team has developed a deeper understanding of how companies like Tencent, Meituan, and Xiaomi operate and succeed. They have also sharpened their strategic thinking under pressure, strengthened their use of business frameworks, and improved their communication and presentation skills.

Thank you to the organisers of these case competitions for their hard work. We wish the team best of luck in their following case competitions and endeavours!

Congratulations to IBGMers Aiswarya Rambhatla and Andrew Fong, alongside teammates Jessica Kim and Sharon D**g, for claiming 1st Place at this year‘s BI International Case Competition.

Organized by BI Norwegian Business School and Astrup Fearnley Group, the competition tested 12 international teams with an intensive 8-hour case. Under immense time pressure and facing a highly complex business scenario, the HKU team demonstrated outstanding strategic thinking and collaboration to secure the win.

A special thank you to Professor Derrald Stice for his invaluable guidance and support throughout the competition.

Well done on this incredible achievement! 👏

Global Business Gathering 2026

Last Saturday, jointly organised by CUHK, HKUST, and HKU, the inaugural Global Business Gathering brought together students from all three schools under one roof, including many IBGMers.

It was a fantastic night of food, fun and friends! A huge thank you to everyone who showed up and made the night so special. Here’s to more cross-university collaborations and good times ahead!

Congratulations to Year 4 IBGMer Jeff Chan and his teammate Darius Ng on being awarded champions in the Avenir–HKU Web3.0 Quantitative Trading Challenge 2025! 🏆

Jointly organized by Avenir Group and HKU Business School, supported by the Web3 Research Hub, the Institute of Digital Economy and Innovation (IDEI) at The University of Hong Kong, and the University of Hong Kong-Standard Chartered Foundation FinTech Academy (HKU-SCF FinTech Academy), and co-hosted by Sinohope and Bitfire, this global challenge invited university students worldwide to explore the emerging field of digital asset quantitative trading.

Don’t forget to follow and like to see what else our IBGMers are up to!

✨ Entrepreneur Spotlight: Tiger BI Hu ✨

A big shoutout to IBGM alumnus Tiger for his exciting journey as an entrepreneur! 🚀 During his time after graduation, Tiger, alongside his team, founded Jobro, a platform focused on transforming the hiring process and making it more engaging.

💡 “Our journey began with observing the challenges faced by fellow students and a genuine aspiration to contribute positively to the world,” Tiger shared. “Despite obstacles along the way, we’ve reached significant milestones, including the successful launch of our MVP, building a strong social media presence, and securing essential funding.”

Tiger’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and passion, and a reminder that IBGMers continue to find success in diverse and exciting fields. Congrats again, Tiger!

Huge congratulations to our IBGMer Bowen Leung and his team (consisting of fellow HKU and CUHK students) for being crowned the Champion Team at this year’s on-site Natixis CIB Global Markets Institute Investment Strategy Challenge in Hong Kong!

Facing fierce competition from 90+ teams, they developed a winning multi-asset structured notes strategy for a complex Swiss client case. They showcased exceptional skill in client advisory, risk management, and financial modeling.

A well-deserved victory that highlights the talent and hard work within our IBGM community!