The Research Grants Council (RGC) has allocated a total of HK$478 million to Hong Kong universities for research initiatives under the Areas of Excellence (AoE) and Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS), with City University, HKU, and Polytechnic University receiving the most funding.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon proposes directing children towards vocational careers such as plumbing and electrical work as early as elementary school. This initiative aims to address the high demand for skilled tradespeople and a labor shortage, particularly with the rapid construction of AI data centers. The proposal revives the divisive concept of 'tracking' students.
The Trump administration plans to redirect billions in federal R&D funding from universities to individual scientists and AI projects. This overhaul, outlined in a White House report, aims to boost US competitiveness against China, which has matched US R&D spending.
China's Ministry of Science and Technology and the European Commission have signed a two-year joint research funding agreement, supporting scientific cooperation until 2027 in areas like food, agriculture, biosolutions, climate change, and biodiversity.
The High Pay Centre (HPC), known for its analysis of executive pay and the pay gap, is set to close due to the termination of its funding by the Financial Fairness Trust, now renamed Aberdeen Group Charitable Trust. This closure highlights a broader trend of reduced funding for social justice research, influenced by a shift away from DEI/ESG initiatives.
