Scholars: Asia has redefined higher education, innovation landscape

Asia has evolved into a leading force in higher education, research and innovation, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region can be a bridge linking educational exchanges between East and West.

University presidents and education experts said that at the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Universities Summit 2026 in the SAR on Wednesday.

The three-day summit, co-hosted by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the London-based education firm Times Higher Education, has gathered more than 600 university leaders, policymakers, academics, and industry experts from Asia and worldwide to exchange ideas, share experiences and build partnerships that expand beyond individual institutions.

In her opening remarks, HKUST President Nancy Ip Yuk-yu said Asia is no longer simply influencing global change, but is actively shaping the direction of innovation, talent development, and societal transformation globally.

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Phil Baty, THE’s chief global affairs officer, said the world is witnessing a true shift and a serious tilt in the balance of power in international higher education and research from West to East.

Citing a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in March, which shows that China has surpassed the United States in total research and development investment, Baty said it was great news that “new knowledge creation is not a zero-sum game”.

Jeff Sze Chun-fai, Hong Kong’s acting secretary for education, told the conference that universities today are not just knowledge creators, but also drivers of innovation, resilience and societal impact. Amid rapid advances in artificial intelligence, digital transformation and sustainability, he urged the higher education sector to turn cutting-edge research into real-world solutions.

Ip added that in an era of technological change and uncertainty, universities must become open and permeable, forging closer ties with industry, government and the community.

She said that global collaboration is important, adding that HKUST has been engaging with top institutions of higher learning and enterprises to help develop the planned university town within Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis mega-town project.

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THE’s Asia-Pacific President Lim Mei Mei agreed that partnerships are essential to meet global challenges, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which require interdisciplinary research and international cooperation.

For Hong Kong, Lim said the city’s appeal lies in its unique role as an international hub and a bridge between East and West, offering a range of distinctive features. The SAR’s universities, for instance, are able to integrate traditional Chinese elements into research, an approach that has drawn strong global interest.

Referring to the Northern Metropolis, she said that while Hong Kong aims to attract top global talent and universities, similar to other education hubs worldwide, it must also carve out its own unique identity.

“Hong Kong needs to begin thinking deeply about what sort of research areas to profile in order to attract top talent around the world,” she said.

The summit coincides with Hong Kong’s ongoing efforts to develop itself into an international post-secondary education hub, supported by initiatives such as the Study in Hong Kong brand and new policies aiming to attract and nurture global talent.

According to the World University Rankings 2026 released by THE in October, Hong Kong is the only city in the world with five universities ranked among the global top 100. All its publicly funded institutions maintained or improved their positions.

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com