AIS encourages students to bridge the gap between academia and industry through hands-on experience. By working side-by-side with full-time colleagues as interns, students can bring their learning to life, flourish in their studies, and excel in their future careers.

Let’s hear from Marley Hung, Year 3 student from the Environmental Management and Technology (EVMT) program, as she reflects on her journey at the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC): 

“I am excited to share my experience from the winter internship at the Investment Products Division in SFC. This experience deepened my understanding of how regulatory policies can advance sustainable finance. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisors for their invaluable guidance, unwavering patience, and constant encouragement throughout this remarkable journey.

As a regulator, SFC continuously makes significant efforts to develop policies and guidelines through a disclosure-based approach, particularly the Circular on ESG funds, which aims to bring greater clarity and transparency to market practices. I am so grateful for being part of the work.

Beyond my assigned duties, my internship was a holistic learning experience. Through e-learning and classroom training sessions, I learned practical green finance knowledge including global ESG trends and the growing importance of green finance to fund houses and other financial institutions. These lessons underscored the critical role of sustainable finance in building a more resilient and equitable economy. 

I also had the opportunity to support the impactful work of Food Angel, a charity dedicated to reducing food waste and helping those in need. This experience reminded me of the powerful intersection between financial innovation and social impact.

The networking sessions provided a valuable platform to share my insights and exchange ideas with fellow interns and professionals from other divisions which allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the diverse functions within the SFC but also broadened my perspective on sustainable finance and its multifaceted challenges.

Reflecting on my time at the SFC, I have come to appreciate how crucial sustainable finance is in addressing climate change and advancing global ESG objectives. Hong Kong, as a global financial hub which is well-placed to connect investors and issuers, has great potential to be the leader in promoting green finance. Funds and businesses must remain open-minded and committed to sharing ESG data to foster trust and accountability. Together, we can amplify the impact of sustainable finance and accelerate progress toward a greener, more equitable future.”