Committee on Education, Technology and Talents meets and exchanges with Presidents of UGC-funded universities (with photos)
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At the meeting, Mr Chan introduced the CETT's work plan to the attending Presidents. The CETT builds on the strategic positioning and advantages of the "eight centres" to cultivate and attract talents, foster technology development and promote Hong Kong as an international hub for high-calibre talent through practical and effective reform and innovation, with a view to fostering the economic development of Hong Kong and contributing to the impetus of national development. On education, the CETT adopts a more integrated and forward-looking strategic direction for talent development, with a view to developing Hong Kong into an international education hub, building and promoting the "Study in Hong Kong" brand, and providing solid talent support for the "eight centres" as well as innovation and technology targeting the development needs of Hong Kong.
Mr Chan said that the Government attracts quality talents from around the world and nurtures local talents through various measures, such as scholarship programmes and increasing the non-local student quota. Starting from the 2024/25 academic year (AY), the non-local student quota for UGC-funded institutions has been doubled from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, while non-local undergraduate enrolment has increased from 19.9 per cent in 2023/24 AY to 23.2 per cent in 2024/25 AY. In light of the sudden policy changes regarding higher education overseas, Mr Chan thanked the UGC-funded universities for providing comprehensive support measures for affected students in a holistic approach, as well as seizing the opportunity to attract more top talent to pursue their studies in Hong Kong so as to give full play to Hong Kong's role as an international post-secondary education hub. The Government will also do its utmost to provide assistance and convenience for overseas talent interested in studying or conducting research in Hong Kong's higher education institutions, including striving to further expand the non-local student quota based on actual needs. As at the date of the meeting, the UGC-funded universities have received about 850 transfer enquiries related to the sudden policy changes regarding higher education overseas. In addition, many UGC-funded universities have recorded a double-digit year-on-year increase in the number of applications from non-local students for the new AY.
The meeting also introduced to the Presidents the scheme jointly implemented by the Education Bureau and the Development Bureau to facilitate the market to increase the supply of student hostels on a self-financing and privately-funded basis. The scheme will be officially launched in mid-July this year, with a view to streamlining the processing of relevant applications in relation to planning, lands, and building plans, so as to facilitate the market to increase the number of hostel places, thereby supporting Hong Kong's development into an international post-secondary education hub. The Government will continue its unwavering support through the UGC for the institutions' continuous innovation and optimisation, giving full play to the strengths of Hong Kong's first-class universities, as well as implement a series of policies for attracting top global talents to tie in with the institutions' capacity expansion and quality enhancement.
Mr Chan said that the CETT will continue to maintain close communication with the eight UGC-funded universities in joining hands to formulate and implement various initiatives to consolidate Hong Kong's position as an international post-secondary education hub. The CETT will also continue to meet and collaborate with various industries and stakeholders to pool wisdom and ideas for building Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent. On the other hand, the Presidents of the eight UGC-funded universities expressed their continued full support for the CETT's work, and will work closely with the Government to attract talent from all over the world and nurture local talent to build a quality talent pool for the future development of Hong Kong and the country.
Ends/Thursday, June 26, 2025
Issued at HKT 20:44
Issued at HKT 20:44
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