Top global university leaders gather in Hong Kong as World Class University Presidents Forum 2026 opens
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As a premier event in the global education community fully supported by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and hosted by the HKUST, the Forum aims to further demonstrate Hong Kong's unique strength and pivotal status as a bridge connecting the Chinese Mainland with the global higher education system. The opening ceremony was officiated by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, who also delivered opening remarks.
Mr Chan said in his speech that higher education has always been a vital pillar of Hong Kong's success. Hong Kong has long served as a hub for global talent and academic exchanges. It is also the only city in the world to host five universities in the global top 100 - a testament to the strength of its higher education, further underscored by the latest QS University Rankings: Asia 2027. The HKSAR Government will continue to align closely with national strategies, accelerate the integrated development of education, technology and talent, and further consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international hub for post-secondary education through the implementation of key initiatives such as the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town.
Several heavyweight interuniversity co-operation signing ceremonies were also held at event, witnessing the signing of important strategic co-operation agreements between leading institutions and organisations at home and abroad. These included a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on deepening collaboration between Central South University and Monash University; an MOU between Zhejiang University and the HKUST on the establishment of a joint innovation centre; a Trilateral Joint Seed Fund agreement among the University of Warwick, Nanyang Technological University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University; as well as a student exchange agreement between Trinity College Dublin and Nanjing University, marking a new milestone in global higher education and research collaborative innovation.
Bringing together presidents, renowned scholars, and international education leaders from dozens of world-leading universities, the Forum addresses key issues such as talent cultivation in the intelligent age, technology and innovation driving the future economy, and universities' response to major global challenges. Today's topics include "The University and the Century Ahead", "Educating the Human: The Generation Shaping the Intelligent Age", and "From Ideas to Innovation: Universities Driving the Future Economy".
A number of prominent leaders from the political, business, and academic sectors also addressed the Forum either in person or via video message, including the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon; the President of the 43rd session of the General Conference of UNESCO, Mr Khondker M Talha; the President of the China Association of Higher Education, Ms Lin Huiqing; the Council Chairman of the HKUST, Professor Harry Shum; and the President of the HKUST, Professor Nancy Ip.
The Forum will continue with panel dialogues and roundtable discussions tomorrow (November 5), covering core areas including global health, sustainable development, open science, and the university in its place and in the world, building consensus and charting actionable pathways for the sustainable future of global higher education.
Ends/Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:12
Issued at HKT 12:12
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