Self-Financing Universities Vital for Hong Kong's Higher Education Brand: Chief Secretary
Bastillepost · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki attended Hong Kong Shue Yan University's 55th anniversary celebration luncheon and long service award ceremony on September 12, 2026, praising the institution's historic achievement of entering the QS World University Rankings for the first time. Chan underscored that while rankings represent an accomplishment, people remain the core of education, and highlighted the crucial role self-financing post-secondary institutions play in Hong Kong's higher education ecosystem. The government is actively promoting the Study in Hong Kong brand and advancing the Northern Metropolis university town to attract more domestic and overseas students.
Key Points
- Hong Kong Shue Yan University held its 55th anniversary celebration on September 12, 2026, with Chief Secretary Chan attending as an alumnus
- Shue Yan achieved a historic milestone by entering the QS World University Rankings for the first time in 2026, 20 years after becoming Hong Kong's first private university in 2006
- Chan emphasized that "people are the core of education," with students, teachers, and alumni representing the vitality of universities
- The government promotes parallel development of publicly-funded and self-financing post-secondary education under the 15th Five-Year Plan
- Self-financing institutions are considered crucial for maintaining Hong Kong's higher education brand, with the Study in Hong Kong brand being actively promoted
- The Northern Metropolis university town is being accelerated to integrate academic strengths with industry development
Why It Matters
Chan quoted the Chinese saying "it takes ten years to grow a tree but a hundred to cultivate people," highlighting that Shue Yan's five decades of commitment to whole-person education reflect the broader mission of Hong Kong's self-financing institutions . As China positions Hong Kong as an international high-end talent hub under the 15th Five-Year Plan, these institutions will be pivotal in attracting and nurturing talent to sustain the city's competitive edge .
Chan quoted the Chinese saying "it takes ten years to grow a tree but a hundred to cultivate people," highlighting that Shue Yan's five decades of commitment to whole-person education reflect the broader mission of Hong Kong's self-financing institutions . As China positions Hong Kong as an international high-end talent hub under the 15th Five-Year Plan, these institutions will be pivotal in attracting and nurturing talent to sustain the city's competitive edge .