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 gathering, which brought together university presidents and scholars representing more than one-third of the world's top 50 universities, served as a platform to discuss talent cultivation in the intelligent age, technology and innovation driving the future economy, and universities' responses to major global challenges. The event matters because it reinforces Hong Kong's strategic ambition to be a global hub for higher education, with implications for international academic collaboration, talent mobility, and the city's competitiveness in the global education arena.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chan Kwok-ki, Acting Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said the Forum's theme, "Higher Education Reimagined: Innovating for the Future," reflects 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. The latest QS World University Rankings: Asia 2027, released November 3, listed five Hong Kong universities in Asia's top 10 and three in Asia's top five. "This is not by chance," Mr Chan 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 ecosystem characterized by internationalisation and diversification, bringing global talent together to address shared global 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, underscoring the city's role as a key driver shaping the future of global higher education. She stressed that Hong Kong's educational future is taking concrete physical shape through the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town. Under the "One town, Five elements" framework, the HKSAR Government is building a holistic campus ecosystem integrating higher education, advanced research, market innovation, vibrant 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.
Several heavyweight interuniversity co-operation signing ceremonies were held during the Forum, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Central South University and Monash University; an MOU between Zhejiang University and HKUST on establishing a joint innovation centre; 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 a new milestone 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's outcomes signal Hong Kong's intent to deepen its role as a connector of global academic talent, with potential long-term effects on student mobility, research partnerships, and economic innovation in the region. For more information on Hong Kong's branding initiatives, visit https://www.brandhk.gov.hk/.
