Aura Global Celebrates Major Milestone Helping 500+ Hong Kong Students Once Labeled “Unsuitable” Thrive in the Netherlands

Aura Global Ltd., a Hong Kong-based education and immigration consultancy, is marking a major milestone after helping more than 500 families transform academic setbacks into global success stories. With a 90% post-graduation retention rate and a growing number of graduates securing employment before completing their studies, Aura Global’s outcomes demonstrate the measurable impact of inclusive, skills-based learning environments for Hong Kong youth.

Through personalized study pathways in the Netherlands, students once limited by the city’s exam-driven education system have gone on to graduate, find employment, and rediscover confidence and purpose abroad.

Student Outcomes Reflect Consistent Results
Aura Global’s milestones highlight improvements in both academic and personal outcomes among participating students. Data collected from recent cohorts show recurring patterns of adjustment and success across diverse backgrounds.

  • Improved social integration: Students previously affected by social anxiety or disengagement in Hong Kong reported greater participation and confidence within two months of arrival in the Netherlands.

  • Enhanced adaptability: Students labelled as rebellious – those who had experienced disciplinary or motivational issues in traditional classrooms – adapted positively to the Netherland’s collaborative learning model, demonstrating improved group engagement and performance.

  • Accessible education pathways: Students transitioning from Hong Kong’s private schools to Dutch universities, where annual tuition and living costs average HK$79,000, have achieved comparable academic stability at a significantly lower overall expense.

According to Margaret Szeto, Founder of Aura Global, these results consistently show that when students are placed in systems that emphasize participation, inclusivity, and well-being, their academic and social development accelerates.

Background Behind the Initiative
Hong Kong’s exam-centric education structure has remained largely unchanged for more than three decades, emphasizing standardized testing as the key determinant of opportunity. Even high-achieving students can face barriers to local university admission, while others are labeled as underperforming based solely on grades.

Experiencing the struggle firsthand, Szeto founded Aura Global to address this challenge.

“Even as a Hong Kong swimming champion, I nearly couldn’t re-enter my own school to continue to Form 6 after scoring only 11 points on HKCEE,” shares Szeto. “I was fortunate my headmaster believed in my potential despite my grades and gave me a second chance. But what happens to students who don’t have that luck? Who don’t have someone willing to look beyond test scores? That’s exactly why I founded Aura Global – to be that ‘second chance’ for students the system has written off.”