The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) is set to play a larger role in the nation’s talent strategies through its new teaching and research facilities, diversified programs and deepened regional collaboration, the university’s management said at a media luncheon on Monday.

John Lee Chi-Kin, president of EdUHK, said the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) has outlined its hopes for the HKSAR becoming a talent hub, and EdUHK will continue to support the nation’s strategy to become a global leader in education.

To this end, EdUHK has opened several new facilities, including a new teaching building in its Tai Po campus and study centers at West Kowloon Cultural District. On the other side of the boundary, the university operates EduHK Shenzhen Research Institute at the Shenzhen Virtual University Park, and a training center in the city’s Luohu district.

Lee said, in the forthcoming academic year, EduHK will introduce about 50 new taught postgraduate programs across various areas, such as Belt and Road Business Communication and Administration, National Security Law, and Digital Human Resource Management, to cultivate experts with cross-domain capabilities and an international perspective.

Regarding undergraduate education, EdUHK will establish its Honours College. Selected students will have research, internships, and exchange opportunities under the mentorship of distinguished faculty members. Scholarships and financial aid for each student admitted to the Honours College for the 2025–26 academic year could be up to HK$240,000 ($30,631).

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To meet the tide of artificial intelligence, EdUHK said it has launched a three-year roadmap to elevate students and staff members’ capability of using AI in both learning and teaching, including AI-themed courses and innovation projects.

Internationalization is another of the university’s key strategies. Starting this year, EdUHK has recruited more than 40 academic staff members from around the world, including the Chinese mainland, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Lee highlighted the university’s latest achievements in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, stressing that the satisfying results — its education subject ranked 7th globally and 2nd in Asia — reflect that EdUHK has been highly recognized by the international academic community.

Looking ahead, Lee stressed that EdUHK will keep cultivating talents and deepen regional cooperation.

Chetwyn Chan Che-hin, vice-president (research and development) of EdUHK, highlighted the new institute in Shenzhen, saying it could be a bridge for EdUHK to participate in more national research projects.

May Cheng May-hung, vice-president (academic) of EdUHK, emphasized the importance of integrating AI into the university’s development plan. She said it has developed AI-powered tools to assist education, such as a one-stop AI innovation platform providing study resources and the latest AI tools.

Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com