Summer School: ENSAI Welcomes 18 Students from Hong Kong  

A group of students from the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) are spending two weeks perfecting their data science skills and discovering the rich cultural heritage of Brittany.

HKU has been a partner of ENSAI since 2017 and is one of Hong Kong’s leading public education and research institutions.

A program combining data science and culture

In partnership with their counterparts in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Sciences, ENSAI’s Department of Humanities and International Relations has organized a two-week program. The program combined lectures (Python programming, data visualization, deep learning) with visits to iconic landmarks such as the Parliament of Brittany and the historic center of Rennes, Saint-Malo, Fougères, Mont Saint-Michel…

“ENSAI is very happy to once again have students from HKU back at ENSAI. We have a strong relationship with our HKU partners, which makes organizing this summer school a true pleasure. We are also very enthusiastic about being able to once again send ENSAI students to HKU for a semester exchange, starting in the 2024/2025 academic year.” – Todd Donahue, head of Department of Humanities and International Relations

“After a 5-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we were looking forward to returning to ENSAI“, smiles Natalie Kwok, from the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Sciences at the University of Hong Kong who accompanied the group.

The group posing in front of Palais Saint-Georges, in Rennes

Testimonials

Christy, a 4th year student in Statistics, majoring in Actuarial Science, particularly valued the Python course. “In actuarial science, mastering programming languages is essential, but until now, I hadn’t had enough opportunity to implement them. At ENSAI, the practical work in Python enabled me to code effectively.”

Shopping at “Marché des Lices” in Rennes

Jiayi, also a 4th year student in the Applied Artificial Intelligence major, points out that the teaching methods at ENSAI are highly interactive. Students work in small groups and are encouraged to ask questions. This easy access to teachers has been one of the positive cultural shocks felt by the young woman since her arrival on June 10. Beyond the classroom, this first glimpse of French culture has enchanted her.

“Last Sunday, I was lucky enough to go to Paris for the day, with a friend from the group. We visited the Louvre museum and attended a show at La Seine Musicale. This immersion in the fine arts was exceptional!”

The summer school is one of many initiatives contributing to ENSAI’s international outreach. ENSAI is already looking forward to welcoming a new group next year.

Find out more about ENSAI’s international partnerships