With a resilient property and construction industry in Hong Kong, the surveying sector continues to appeal to many local youngsters. They are not short of study options, with local universities offering a variety of surveying and related degree courses that balance classroom learning with practical experiences.
In early May, the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS) arranged for eight students from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and City University of Hong Kong (CityU) to meet up and talk on a number of topics, ranging from how they first got interested in surveying and their favourite university experiences to upcoming internships and future career plans.
Iris Mak Nga-ching, a second-year surveying student at PolyU, first heard about the surveying sector when she entered a competition at secondary school organised by HKIS’s building division. “I did an analysis on the subdivided flat phenomenon in Hong Kong and why it was unique and popular in the city,” she said. “Surveying appeals to me because it is closely related to construction and economics, while intertwined with social issues and the community.”
Yoko Leung Lai-han, a first-year geomatics student at PolyU, explained that surveying also piqued her interest at secondary school. “I picked a construction course at school, and I’ve always been interested in map drawing and architecture because it is closely related to daily life.”
Kevin Leung decided to enrol in PolyU’s degree course in building engineering and management after attending an experience-sharing session with graduates of his secondary school. “I gained some basic knowledge on the profession and then did some online research to find out more,” said Leung, whose degree includes courses related to surveying. “I enjoy outdoor work, so a job involving construction sites would be ideal for me. It’d be nice when, in the future, I can point to some buildings and proudly announce that I was involved in their construction.”
Surveying students at PolyU get to work on a diverse range of projects. For instance, Thomas Ng Ka-lam, a first-year student also studying a building and real estate degree at PolyU, said he enjoyed a group project on redeveloping Kam Tin in the New Territories. “Our project focused on redeveloping plots of land,” he said. “We conducted site visits and interviewed local residents to identify problems and develop solutions to address their concerns.”
Ng’s group consisted of students in land surveying, civil environmental engineering, and building service engineering. “This exposed us to specialised knowledge in other fields – similar to real-life projects in which surveyors collaborate with other specialists,” Ng said. “The project also involved simulated business proposals and required us to do reports and presentations. It helped us polish our communication and presentation skills.”
Kevin Leung, who took part in the Kam Tin project with Ng, said it was an eye-opening experience and enjoyed having the opportunity to explore old village houses. “I enjoyed the challenge of developing practical solutions for local residents and weighing up possible solutions from the perspectives of all the stakeholders.”
Despite their young age, some of the students have taken up leadership roles at their universities. For instance, Chris Chan Kwan-lap, a second-year surveying student at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), was also chairman of the university’s Surveying Society. He said the experience has been among the highlights of his campus life so far, with the society’s annual dinner proving particularly memorable. “I led the cabinet responsible for securing a venue, sending out invitations and other things like sourcing decorations,” he said.
Chan’s classmate Eddie Hau Siew-hin says he likes the “living room” atmosphere of the common studio in the Department of Real Estate and Construction at HKU. “At any time of day you’ll find people engaged in group discussions or simply chatting or studying. I enjoy mixing and mingling with students of all years, many of whom are keen to share their experiences and thoughts.”
For Yoko Leung, one of best parts of her degree has been site visits organised by PolyU’s Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics Students’ Society. One occasion saw them visit the construction site of a residential building in Tai Kok Tsui. “We were exposed to real-life works in progress and I got to talk to the foremen. This was much more interesting than just looking at PowerPoint slides in a classroom,” she said.
All the students said they also appreciate events held by the HKIS. Wilson Law Chi-kin, who, like Yoko Leung, is a first-year geomatics student at PolyU, said that helping out at HKIS’s Career Expo this year made him realise some new things about the sector. “I was surprised to see many secondary students express interest in the profession. I also found out that surveyors work closely with project managers at construction sites.”
Judy Wong, a fourth-year surveying student at City University of Hong Kong, said she has particularly benefited from the networking opportunities available for young surveyors. “Through student networking activities, I’ve learned about the curricula and teaching methods at other universities. For instance, some universities incorporate more debates in their surveying programmes. It has inspired me to think of the differing approaches to knowledge transfer and reflect on ways to improve my study,” she explained.
All the students expect to develop a career in surveying after graduation. Some, such as Hau, intend to take up internship opportunities. “I will intern at a consultancy firm this summer and look forward to acquiring some practical knowledge in the workplace and explore what surveyors do in real projects.”
Chan is also excited about his upcoming internship in quantity surveying at a contractor company. “I want to know more about real workplaces and processes and get some practical work experience. I believe this will help me make the decision about which division to specialise in later.”
