Key facts
- Hong Kong is actively recruiting international academics and researchers to strengthen its higher education and innovation sectors.
- The city aims to serve as a conduit for collaboration between China and the rest of the world.
- Several Hong Kong universities have reported increased international faculty appointments.
- Notable scholars like Nobel laureate Andre Geim and Professor Gao Yang have recently moved to Hong Kong institutions.
Hong Kong is intensifying its efforts to attract global academic talent, seeking to bolster its higher education and innovation sectors amidst increasing geopolitical scrutiny of mainland China. Officials are promoting the city as a key hub for international collaboration, aiming to leverage its unique position to connect China with the rest of the world.
This internationalization drive is being championed by high-level officials, including Zheng Yanxiong, head of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who have both called for expanded foreign ties and improved global influence for Hong Kong and Macau. The goal is to rebuild and expand Hong Kong's global higher education and research networks, which saw some disruption due to pandemic restrictions and concerns over academic freedom and university autonomy.
Universities in Hong Kong have reported success in their recruitment campaigns. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has welcomed over 100 top scholars and scientists from various countries since October 2022 and aims to hire another 100. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has recruited over 150 leading international and promising young scholars since 2023. Notable figures like Nobel laureate Andre Geim and Professor Gao Yang, a specialist in robotics and aerospace, have recently joined Hong Kong institutions, citing the city's focus on scientific development and perceived stability compared to Western countries.
However, Hong Kong academics note that the city's push for internationalization is also a response to doubts about its openness, particularly in light of recent political developments and clampdowns on freedoms. While Hong Kong's universities have historically been internationalized, the current drive aims to reaffirm this status and attract talent who may face greater uncertainties or challenges in Western countries.