Hang Seng University of Hong Kong and Renmin University of China Co-Host International Symposium : Rethinking Global University Rankings

3 October 2025

Professor Joshua Mok, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research) of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, delivered opening remarks at the “International Symposium on Rethinking Global University Rankings: Perspectives from Humanities, Social Sciences, and Higher Education.” The event was co-hosted by Renmin University of China and The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong in Beijing on October 3, 2025. The Evaluation Research Center and School of Education of Renmin University of China is organiser and co-organizer, respectively.

At the prestigious opening ceremony, Professor Mok delivered a thought-provoking speech titled “Global University Rankings and Higher Education: Critical Reflections” offering a comprehensive analysis of the impact and limitations of current global university ranking system. He joined other distinguished leaders for the opening ceremony, including Qu Zhenyuan, Former President of the China Association of Higher Education; and Qinggeletu, Vice Chair of the University Council of Renmin University of China.

The symposium brought together leading scholars, researchers, and policymakers to critically re-examine the methodologies and influence of global university rankings. It also served as a significant platform to collectively explore evaluation philosophies and indicator systems that are more congruent with the development patterns of humanities and social sciences.

The event also featured a series of keynote speeches by experts from world-renowned institutions, including the University of Oxford, The Education University of Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong the National Chengchi University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Ministry of Education, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Renmin University of China, and Lingnan University.