China News Service, Hong Kong, November 6 (Reporter Qiu Zhaoxiang) The "World's Top University Presidents Forum 2026" was recently held at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. In interviews with reporters from China News Service, several overseas university presidents said that Hong Kong has many internationally ranked high-quality universities with outstanding teaching and scientific research capabilities. They look forward to cooperating with local universities in Hong Kong in the fields of academic research, technological innovation, and talent exchange, and to implement cooperation projects in the university towns in the northern metropolitan area of Hong Kong (referred to as "Northern Capital").
From November 4th to 5th, the "World's Top University Presidents Forum 2026" was held at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The picture shows Duncan Ivison, President of the University of Manchester, Mosa Moshabela, President of the University of Cape Town, South Africa, Joan Guàrdia Olmos, President of the University of Barcelona, Spain, Stuart Croft, President of the University of Warwick, Stephen McArthur, President of the University of Strathclyde, and Ip Yuru, President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (from left to right). (Photo provided by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
The "Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address" proposed that Beidu will take the university town as the main development line, bringing together the five major elements of education, technology, industry, talents and livable communities to promote the integrated development of education, technology and talents.
Duncan Ivison, president of the University of Manchester in the UK, pointed out that the Hong Kong SAR government has a very grand vision for Beidu University City. At the beginning of the planning, a "triple helix" cooperation structure between universities, industry and partners was built. The SAR government has also sent a clear signal that it welcomes cooperation between global universities and local universities in Hong Kong to support relevant development visions.
"For Hong Kong, Beidu University Town is an important development opportunity." Stuart Croft, president of the University of Warwick in the UK, believes that the relevant plan is not only to expand the scale of university education, but also to deeply link up with international institutions. Beidu University Town gives Hong Kong universities the opportunity to promote international synergy and integration earlier and more deeply than universities in other parts of the world, further enhancing the global influence of Hong Kong higher education.
In order to break down the barriers between R&D and production and truly empower the industrial development of the northern capital, Stephen McArthur, president of the University of Strathclyde in the UK, said that building a strong and in-depth partnership between universities and industry is the key. Universities need to identify the key directions of industrial development and match their own scientific research advantages. In addition, universities can also work with relevant industries to formulate development roadmaps and cultivate suitable talents based on a common vision.
Talking about the cooperation model with Hong Kong universities, Joan Guàrdia Olmos, president of the University of Barcelona in Spain, said that the university has conducted in-depth research on the model of signing strategic agreements to jointly launch academic cooperation projects with Hong Kong universities. Hong Kong universities are ideal partners for the school to build a close and strong scientific research cooperation network. The school hopes to implement high-level scientific research and innovation projects in Hong Kong and promote the transformation of scientific research results.
President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Ip Yu-ru said that university leaders at home and abroad have shown strong interest in the development of Beidu University Town, which reflects the confidence of the international higher education community in the development of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is actively studying relevant arrangements, hoping to make good use of the development opportunities in Beidu, share the university's scientific research advantages, international cooperation network and cultivation of innovation and entrepreneurship experience, and contribute to Hong Kong's construction of an international education hub and an international innovation and technology center.
