Guests gather at the 2021 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau University Alliance working group meeting

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau University Alliance(GHMUA), which was initiated by The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) and the University of Macau (UM), called a working group meeting on 9 April to review and discuss work plans under the Alliance.

The meeting was organized by CUHK and Professor Fok Tai-fai, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK gave an opening speech for the meeting. Participants from the three regions included Mr. Shu Gangbo, Deputy Director of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Education (MOE); Mr. Xu Kai, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); Mr. Li Jinjun, Director of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Affairs Office of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province; Ms. Winkie Chick, Assistant Secretary (Higher Education) of the Education Bureau of HKSAR; Mr. Teng Sio Hong, Deputy Director of Education and Youth Development Bureau in the Macao SAR; and representatives from the 40 member institutions of GHMUA.

In his speech, Professor Fok expressed that the Alliance has entered into its fifth year. With the goal of cultivating talents and promoting regional development, GHMUA has yielded fruitful results. On the basis of the achievements, the Alliance shall go further to utilize its advantages and expand its influence especially under the new norms and challenges after the pandemic. Members held discussions relating to alliance affairs, talents nurturing and academic exchange activities according to the theme “Meet the challenges of the new era and work together to enhance the influence of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau University Alliance. Views were exchanged to boost communication for growth of collaboration projects.

Founded in November 2016, GHMUA aspires to gather elite universities in the region, to facilitate the nurture of leaders and to foster regional collaboration. Member institutions include 9 universities from Hong Kong, 24 universities from Guangdong Province and 7 universities from Macau.

Representatives from CUHK (left) and Luohu District People's Government sign on the collaboration agreement

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Faculty of Business Administration (Business School) and Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 14 April to foster strategic collaboration. Senior members of CUHK joining the signing ceremony included Professor Alan Chan, Provost; Professor Fok Tai-Fai, Pro-Vice-Chancellor; Professor Wong Suk-Ying, Associate Vice-President; Professor Zhou Lin, Dean of CUHK Business School; Professor Cheung Waiman, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies); Professor Michael Zhang, Associate Dean (Innovation and Impact); Professor Chew Seen-Meng, Associate Dean (External Engagement); Professor Liu Ming, Director of the MBA in Finance Programme; Ms. Wing Wong, Director of Academic Links (China). Representatives from Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government comprised District Party Secretary Mr. Luo Yude; District Mayor Mr. Liu Zhiyong; Mr. Fan Defan, Executive Deputy District Mayor; Mr. Song Qiang, Deputy District Mayor; Mr. Zhou Xiaojian, Director of Development and Reform Bureau; and Mr. Yin Gang, Director of Education Bureau.

The signed MoU has signified a new education mode of talent nurturing for the two regions to leverage the adjacent geographical advantages. Professor Zhou said that the Business School will be able to arrange classes in either Shatin or Luohu for faculty members and students from Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas according to the needs of specified courses. Teaching and research can also be carried out in parallel in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Students can choose to pursue their careers in both regions and academic members can conduct research via utilizing the resources of both places. Under the collaboration, Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Government fully supports new development projects in the area, including the establishment of internship bases and pioneer parks to promote collaborative initiatives between institutions and enterprises, so as to cultivate innovative talents with global vision for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.

Professor Wong Suk-Ying, Associate Vice President gives a presentation at the roundtable forum

The China-UK Humanities Alliance for Higher Education has its 2021 Executive Council meeting cum Roundtable Forum on 14 April. About 80 participants joined the meeting, including senior members, scholars and representatives from member universities in China and UK. Professor Wong Suk-Ying, Associate Vice-President; and Professor Tang Xiaobing, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, attended the meeting on behalf of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

Professor Chen Xu, Party Secretary, Alliance Chair and Chairperson of the University Council of Tsinghua University delivered an opening speech for the meeting and the Forum. The council meeting was co-hosted by Professor Melissa Percival, Associate Dean of Foreign Affairs, School of Humanities of the University of Exeter and Professor Yan Haiping, Dean of the Institute of World Literatures and Cultures of Tsinghua University. Participated members introduced and approved the proposals of the alliance forum in 2022, the establishment of alliance teams and the academic committee at the meeting. A roundtable forum was held after the meeting with the theme of Re-imagining the Global University. Professor Wong delivered a talk for the plenary session entitled How Humanities Education Shape the Future of University, analyzing the current challenges and the impact of humanities in creating a new milestone for global universities. Scholars spoke and interacted on specific themes in relation to cross-language and cross-cultural issues during the Forum to promote in-depth humanities cooperation in shaping global community.

An academic conference was organized by the University of Exeter further to the roundtable forum focusing on the same theme from 19 to 21 May. Professor David Huddart, Acting Department Chair of English of CUHK participated in the conference on behalf of the University. He delivered a talk entitled “Life Writing and the Conservation Humanities” for the panel session on Environmental Humanities and Sustainability.

The China-UK Humanities Alliance for Higher Education was initiated by Tsinghua University with the aim to increase and consolidate academic exchanges between Chinese and British universities via cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration in the field of humanities. Founding members joining the Alliance comprise 5 Chinese universities (Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Wuhan University, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong) and 7 British universities (The University of Oxford China Centre, The Needham Research Institute of Cambridge University, SOAS, University of London, King’s College London, University of Reading, The University of Manchester and The University of Warwick). Shanghai International Studies University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, University of Exeter, Loughborough University and University College London have joined the Alliance as members. CUHK is the only member from Hong Kong.

A group photo of participants attending the Green University Consortium Working Group Meeting

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) held a working group meeting on 20 April to discuss on annual events and further development plan of the Green University Consortium. Participants included representatives from Nanjing University, National Central University, Zhejiang University, Beijing Normal University and National Cheng Kung University. Ms. Wing Wong, Director of Academic Links (China) of CUHK attended the meeting on behalf of the University.

The representatives had discussion on 2021 Board Meeting and summer programmes. It was resolved that a two-day online interflow activity with the theme of “Air” concerning green living will be held. Taking the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” established by the United Nations as the blueprint, the Green Competition of the year will focus on the 5 core goals as the main axis. In order to bolster the linkage between member universities, the meeting suggested to offer credit-bearing summer green courses as electives. A new platform was also proposed to encourage members to share resources and activities. The consortium charter will be refined to welcome more new members to promote the joint impact in achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Green University Consortium was established in 2011 by CUHK, Nanjing University and Central University, which serves as a platform for consolidating resources, and driving initiatives to build a green campus. To fully utilize the platform to exert great influences in fostering exchange on environmental protection and sustainability development, the Consortium was expanded to include Beijing Normal University, Zhejiang University and National Cheng Kung University as new member universities.