- 2026年3月5日
Graduate School (GS) of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), in collaboration with the University of Manchester, successfully hosted the international roundtable discussion titled “HSUHK–Manchester Roundtable Discussion: The Quest for Education Hub in Asia—Comparative Perspectives and Policy Learning” on 5 March 2026. Supported by the the Asia Pacific Higher Education Research Partnership (APHERP), the event brought together scholars from Hong Kong and the United Kingdom to examine how higher education systems across Asia are responding to global competition, talent mobility, and policy transformation.
The roundtable was opened by Professor Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Provost and Vice President (Academic and Research) of HSUHK, who framed the discussion around the strategic role of higher education in sustaining Asia’s economic competitiveness and global engagement. Professor Mok emphasised that collaboration is a key success factor in shaping Asia as an education hub, underscoring the importance of international partnerships in fostering policy learning, research excellence, and talent development. The event provided a meaningful platform for dialogue and mutual learning between scholars from the University of Manchester and The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, strengthening cross‑regional research and policy networks in higher education.
The first roundtable featured perspectives from the University of Manchester, with presentations by Dr Miguel Antonio Lim, Dr Zhu Biyun, Dr Skye Zhao, and Ms Zhang Kexin, who offered rich and complementary insights into the evolving role of universities in a globally competitive and policy‑driven higher education landscape. Dr Lim’s emphasis on impact‑driven research and international partnerships highlighted the growing expectations for universities to demonstrate societal relevance and policy influence. Dr Zhu’s conceptual framing of international education as a form of cultural diplomacy provided a critical policy lens for understanding how states leverage education to advance broader strategic interests. Meanwhile, Dr Zhao and Ms Zhang illustrated how research on digital technologies, generative artificial intelligence, and liberal arts education can inform inclusive and future‑oriented policy thinking, while addressing issues of equity, accessibility, and sustainability.
The second roundtable, moderated by Dr Chan Chi Kit from HSUHK, focused on policy‑oriented research and comparative analysis. Professor Mok and his research team—Dr Ayomide Oladosu and Dr Rainie Ke from HSUHK—presented findings from their ongoing public policy research on strategies for attracting and retaining international doctoral talent in Hong Kong. The study is funded by the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme of the Government of the HKSAR (Project No. E2025.B12.011) (project in progress). Their presentation offered a cmparative analysis of Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom, highlighting how national policy frameworks, funding models, immigration regimes, and institutional practices shape doctoral mobility and long term talent retention. The discussion was further enriched by contributions from Dr Zia Ullah Akhunzada of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, who offered comparative and regional perspectives on higher education reform, internationalisation, and student mobility.
The roundtable concluded with a forward looking discussion that yielded meaningful policy recommendations and identified opportunities for future research collaboration between The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong and the University of Manchester. Participants expressed strong interest in joint work on doctoral education, international education policy, AI and higher education governance, and comparative studies of education hubs across Asia and beyond.
By bringing together policy analysis, international perspectives, and cutting edge research, the HSUHK-Manchester Roundtable made a timely contribution to ongoing debates about Asia’s evolving role in global higher education and reaffirmed the value of international collaboration in shaping the future of education.
Media Report:
中国网 | 香港恒生大学与曼彻斯特大学合办国际圆桌会议 探讨亚洲教育枢纽发展：政策比较及分析视角 | 11/03/26
一点资讯 | 香港恒生大学与曼彻斯特大学合办国际圆桌会议 探讨亚洲教育枢纽发展：政策比较及分析视角 | 10/03/26
腾讯内容 | 香港恒生大学与曼彻斯特大学合办国际圆桌会议 探讨亚洲教育枢纽发展：政策比较及分析视角 | 10/03/26
搜狐 | 香港恒生大学与曼彻斯特大学合办国际圆桌会议 探讨亚洲教育枢纽发展：政策比较及分析视角 | 10/03/26
今日头条 | 香港恒生大学与曼彻斯特大学合办国际圆桌会议 | 09/03/26
潮新闻 | 香港恒生大学与曼彻斯特大学合办国际圆桌会议 探讨亚洲教育枢纽发展：政策比较及分析视角 | 09/03/26