Education leaders from around the world convened in Hong Kong for the World Class University Presidents Forum 2026, held November 4-5 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The event brought together university presidents, renowned scholars, and international education leaders representing more than one-third of the world's top 50 universities. Discussions centered on talent cultivation in the intelligent age, technology and innovation driving the future economy, and universities' responses to major global challenges.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chan Kwok-ki, Acting Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), highlighted the Forum's theme, "Higher Education Reimagined: Innovating for the Future," as reflective of the current global environment. "We live in an age of rapid technological change, systemic economic shifts, and unprecedented global challenges," Mr. Chan said. "In this transformative landscape, universities are no longer just communities of learning and skills development. They are engines of innovation, guardians of truth, and architects of our collective future." He noted that higher education has always been a vital pillar of Hong Kong's success, with five universities ranked among the world's top 100 and, according to the latest QS World University Rankings: Asia 2027 released on November 3, five in Asia's top 10 and three in Asia's top five. "This is not by chance," he said. "It is the result of sustained government investment, clear policy direction and the hard work of our universities."
Serving as a bridge between East and West, Hong Kong offers an internationalized and diversified ecosystem that brings global talent together to address shared challenges. Dr. Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education of the HKSAR, said the Forum forms part of a strategic series of signature initiatives promoting the "Study in Hong Kong" brand worldwide, alongside events such as the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition held in February. She stressed that Hong Kong's educational future is taking concrete shape through the Northern Metropolis University Town, developed under a "One town, Five elements" framework that integrates higher education, advanced research, market innovation, living spaces, and top-tier talent. "Positioned at the gateway to the Chinese Mainland, the University Town will foster deep Industry-Academia-Research integration, linking academic research directly with industry capabilities to serve national development under the 15th Five-Year Plan," Dr. Choi said.
The Forum also hosted several interuniversity cooperation signing ceremonies, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Central South University and Monash University; an MOU between Zhejiang University and HKUST to establish a joint innovation center; a Trilateral Joint Seed Fund agreement among the University of Warwick, Nanyang Technological University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University; and a student exchange agreement between Trinity College Dublin and Nanjing University. These agreements mark new milestones in global higher education and research collaborative innovation. "Assembling such a distinguished constellation of global academic leadership strongly reaffirms Hong Kong's standing as an international education hub and significantly enhances the city's discourse power in the global educational arena," Dr. Choi said. The Forum serves to strengthen Hong Kong's position as a hub for academic collaboration, with more information available at https://www.brandhk.gov.hk/. The event was announced via Media OutReach Newswire.
