City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is steadfast in its mission to provide high-quality and innovative education. On 3 December, CityUHK hosted a pivotal session, titled “University Governance and Innovation”, at the Global University Presidents & Leaders Summit 2024, engaging in an enlightening dialogue with academic leaders from globally renowned universities. Additionally, CityUHK signed an agreement with the University of Surrey during the summit, paving the way for exciting student exchange opportunities between the two institutions.

Chaired by Professor Freddy Boey, President of CityUHK, the “University Governance and Innovation” session explored innovative governance models, including international partnerships, interdisciplinary research, and the integration of technology to foster and sustainably maintain global collaboration.

President Boey affirmed that universities should be locally rooted and universally connected. Under the impact globalisation, innovative governance models are essential to address the collective challenges faced by modern society. President Boey then provided an overview of CityUHK’s latest initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and global collaboration. 

“To celebrate the 30th anniversary of CityUHK achieving university status, this year we established the CityUHK Academy of Innovation, the Institute of Digital Medicine, the College of Computing, and the Hong Kong Institute of AI for Science. These milestones underscore CityUHK’s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary and innovative education on a global scale. CityUHK will continue to promote inspirational, interactive and innovative learning, contributing to the development of Hong Kong as an international post-secondary education hub and building the ‘Study in Hong Kong’ brand,” said President Boey. 
 
Invited by CityUHK, Dame Madeleine Atkins, President of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge; Professor Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University; Professor Max Lu, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Surrey; Professor Ruksana Osman, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg; and Professor Franck Richecoeur, Director of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees, CentraleSupélec, Paris-Saclay University, shared their insights on the significance of governance in higher education with other esteemed academic leaders from world-renowned institutions at the session, focusing on how universities adapt to globalisation and drive innovation. Other distinguished speakers were as follows (in alphabetical order of surname):

? Dr Dieter De Bruyn, Senior Policy Advisor, Rector’s Office, Ghent University;
? Professor Alojzy Nowak, Rector, University of Warsaw; and
? Professor Zhu Xinkai, Executive Vice-President, Renmin University of China.

Organised by the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship and supported by the University Grants Committee and nine universities in Hong Kong, the Global University Presidents & Leaders Summit 2024 has invited over 50 speakers and leaders from globally renowned universities to discuss various significant topics, such as artificial intelligence, university governance and education in future. The summit aims to foster the development of an international post-education hub that champions the globalisation of knowledge.

In addition, President Boey and Professor Lu signed an agreement during the event, establishing an exchange programme focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship for undergraduate students of CityUHK and the University of Surrey. The programme will provide opportunities for exchange students to receive training and be exposed to a work environment in participating companies.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, President Boey remarked, “CityUHK is thrilled to further strengthen our collaboration with the University of Surrey by jointly establishing an exchange programme. We are confident that our cooperation will nurture young innovators with a global perspective and foster collaboration with industry.”

CityUHK representatives in attendance at the signing ceremony included: Professor Lee Chun-sing, Provost and Deputy President; Professor Kevin Downing, Secretary to Council; Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise); Professor Li Wen Jung, Vice-President (Talent and International Strategy); Professor Chan Chi-hou, Vice-President (Community Engagement); Miss Maggie Chau Choi-ying, Vice-President (Administration); Professor Anderson Shum Ho-cheung, Vice-President (Research); Professor Yue Chee Yoon, Dean of Graduate Studies; Professor Wang Jianping, Dean of the College of Computing; Professor Lu Jian, Dean of the College of Engineering; Professor Alfred Ho Tat-kei, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Professor Wang Xin, Dean of the College of Science; Professor Vanessa Barrs, Dean of the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences; Professor Espen Aarseth, Dean of the School of Creative Media; Professor Lin Feng, Dean of the School of Law; and Ms Pheck Choo Ng, Director of the Office of the President and the Global Engagement Office, among others. 

CityUHK is committed to fostering greater academic and research collaboration with influential universities worldwide. It draws students from over 80 countries or regions worldwide and partners with over 400 exchange programmes in 44 countries or regions.

Notable partners include (in alphabetical order) the National University of Singapore, Peking University (China), Satbayev University (Kazakhstan), Tsinghua University (China), the University of Cambridge (UK), and the University of Johannesburg (South Africa).

Please visit the thematic website for more information about CityUHK’s global partnerships.

Media enquiries: 
Vanessa Cheung, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 5221 or 6408 7411)