APHERP News | Research@HSUHK

HSUHK Graduate School Hosts HSUHK-Manchester Roundtable Exploring Asia as an Education Hub

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:55:25 +0000

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.

Professor Joshua Mok delivers keynote speech at Tsinghua University International Seminar

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:09:58 +0000

On 21 January 2026, Professor Joshua Mok, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research) of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, was invited by the School of Education at Tsinghua University to deliver a keynote speech at the international seminar titled "Higher Education Research from a Global Perspective: Challenges and Prospects."

In his presentation, "Promoting International Research Collaboration in Higher Education: The Asia Pacific Higher Education Research Partnership (APHERP) Experience," Professor Mok, who also serves as Co-Director of APHERP, shared the research platform's vision and mission. He emphasised APHERP's pivotal role in fostering cross-border collaboration among universities to enhance mutual understanding and advance transnational education.

Professor Mok called for deeper international cooperation to strengthen cross-cultural dialogue and educational exchange. He also extended an invitation to APHERP partner institutions, including Tsinghua University, to jointly advance higher education research while cultivating scholars who appreciate cultural diversity and embrace global perspectives.

The international seminar was successfully held at Tsinghua University on 21 January 2026, gathering leading scholars from prestigious institutions worldwide, including Boston College (USA), the University of Oslo (Norway), Hiroshima University (Japan), The University of Hong Kong, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Tsinghua University, and Renmin University of China.

Media Report:

清华大学教育学院 | 【新闻直通】"全球视野下的高等教育研究：挑战和展望"研讨会成功举办 | 30/01/26

Professor Joshua Mok Ka-ho Attends the Fourth International University Forum and Shares Insights on Talent Development

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 07:02:20 +0000

Professor Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research) of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) and Dean of the Graduate School, also the Co-Director of the Asia Pacific Higher Education Research Partnership (APHERP), participated in the Fourth International University Forum on Employment and Entrepreneurship held at Jiaxing University in Zhejiang Province from 24 to 25 October 2025.

Co-organized by APHERP, the forum focused on the theme "Innovation · Empowerment · Win-Win: Fostering Global Competence and an Employment and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem," bringing together over 150 participants from government, higher education, industry and international organisations.

Professor Mok, delivered opening remarks, where he outlined recent developments of HSUHK and introduced the role of APHERP in fostering collaborative research in higher education. The opening ceremony was joined by distinguished speakers from the German Institute of Higher Education Research, the World Bank, and official and university leaders from Beijing and Jiaxing.

During the forum, Professor Mok presented a keynote speech sharing findings from his research project on Hong Kong's development as an international higher education hub, a study funded by the Chief Executive Policy Unit of the HKSAR Government. His presentation included comparative analysis of higher education hubs in the UK, Singapore, and Malaysia.

In his talk, Professor Mok noted that beyond financial incentives, factors such as family-friendly policies, a stable policy environment, and effective immigration measures are important for attracting and retaining academic talent.

The forum featured speakers from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Norway, Canada, France, Australia, the USA, and Russia, facilitating a useful exchange of perspectives on employment and entrepreneurship education.

More Information about the Forum:

【重磅】正在进行时！高等学校就业创业国际论坛 | 会议手册全览！含会议议程及嘉宾阵容 | 教研星空

HSUHK Co-hosts International Symposium to Forge Innovative Paths to Quality Higher Education in Asia

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 06:54:07 +0000

In a significant contribution to the regional dialogue on education, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) co-hosted a major international research symposium on 17 October 2025, bringing together leading scholars to explore innovative strategies for shaping a sustainable future for higher education across Asia.

The research seminar, titled "Innovative Paths to Quality Higher Education in Asia: Reform, Risks and Reinventions for a Sustainable Future", was jointly organised by HSUHK, Chengchi University in Taiwan (NCCU), and the Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council of Taiwan. Held in a hybrid format at NCCU in Taipei, the symposium addressed the pressing challenges of quality assurance, digital transformation, and sustainable development facing universities in the post-pandemic era.

The seminar convened a distinguished lineup of experts from across the region, including scholars from HSUHK, Lingnan University, Nanyang Technological University, Chengchi University in Taiwan, Chiayi University in Taiwan, Taipei University of Technology in Taiwan, Seoul National University. They delved into the complex interplay between systemic reforms, evolving regulatory frameworks, and the need for institutions to remain agile and responsive to societal and economic demands.

A keynote presentation was delivered by Professor Joshua Mok Ka-ho, Provost and Vice President (Academic and Research) and the Dean of the Graduate School at HSUHK. In his thought-provoking speech, "Epistemic Justice in International Higher Education: Experiences of African Students in China ", Professor Mok challenged conventional perspectives on internationalisation. He highlighted the critical importance of recognising and integrating diverse forms of knowledge and student experiences.

The symposium featured a series of presentations where speakers examined a wide range of topics, including the alignment of educational outcomes with labour market needs, the digital transformation of teaching and learning, and the practical integration of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into institutional governance and curricula.

The event served as a vital platform for scholars to share cutting-edge research and foster collaborative partnerships, underscoring the shared mission of advancing higher education across Asia.

Professor Mok presents special gift to Professor Yu Min-Ning, the Dean of Education of NCCU.