John Lee, UGC chart higher education strategy
Thestandard · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu met members of the University Grants Committee on September 2 to exchange views on the latest development of Hong Kong’s higher education sector and map out strategy for the city’s next phase as an international education hub. The discussion centred on the Northern Metropolis University Town Area, national and global partnerships, and how Hong Kong’s universities can strengthen research, teaching and learning in the digital era.
Key Points
- The September 2 meeting was attended by John Lee, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Education Secretary Christine Choi Yuk-lin, Acting Innovation Secretary Lillian Cheong Man-lei and policy unit head Stephen Wong Yuen-shan
- Lee and the UGC discussed using the Northern Metropolis University Town Area to deepen integration among industry, academia and research.
- The talks also covered building Hong Kong into an international education hub through broader national and global partnerships.
- Lee said five UGC-funded universities are ranked in the world’s top 100, including two in the top 20
- UGC chairman Tim Lui Tim-leung said the committee will organise high-profile summits and forums to connect with global academic leaders and promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand.
Why It Matters
The meeting links higher education planning with the Northern Metropolis and the government’s coming First Five-Year Plan, pointing to a more coordinated approach between universities, talent policy and industry development. For students and institutions, the emphasis on internationalisation, digital-era teaching and talent attraction suggests future policy support will be tied closely to Hong Kong’s role as an education hub.