IN-PERSON: Livable Cities – New York

Abstract

Although receiving higher education is bright for most people, it means hard life for some non-local educatee. These non-local students and researchers are in Hong Kong, New York, London, and other global metropolises while enjoying excellent educational resources; it also needs to spend a lot of money and energy to fight for limited housing resources. Most non-local students and researchers need to pay higher tuition fees, and it is difficult to legally obtain part-time job opportunities to supplement the pressure brought by housing. At the same time, the help from the school is also limited; the school has been trying to create diversity and fairness for students in a sustainable and inclusive living environment. But with the expansion of enrollment, the number of non-local students is increasing, exceeding the number of accommodations the university can afford in the initial planning stage. The limited land of the school cannot be used for non-local students. And it is difficult for the government to control the prices of commercial apartments and housing under gentrification; it has become a challenge to provide more affordable housing for students, making the lives of many young students and researchers difficult. Difficulties may cause students to be unable to focus on their studies, leading to unfair education. This article will start from the urban planning perspective, combined with surveys, interviews, and comparisons, and take CUHK’s university campuses and surrounding areas as examples to explore the plight of international students and researchers under enormous housing pressure.