Latest news with #UniversityGrantsCommittee
RTHK
02-07-2025
- Business
- RTHK
'HK universities are attractive to foreign students'
'HK universities are attractive to foreign students' Christine Choi says the strength of Hong Kong's higher education sector is reflected by the latest QS World University Rankings. Photo: RTHK University applications from non-local students have been flooding in, the education chief says, as Hong Kong seeks to attract international students whose study plans may have been affected by Washington's shifting policies towards their own tertiary institutions. Secretary for Education Christine Choi also pledged both funding and policy support for the tertiary sector so that the SAR can develop into an international hub for post-secondary education. In an interview marking the third anniversary of Chief Executive John Lee's administration, Choi said local universities have already made offers to dozens of students having second thoughts about studying in the United States. "The institutions have responded quickly to the government's call to assist these students. They provided different convenience measures based on their own situation, including a dedicated email address for interested students wishing to make enquiries," she said. As of late last month, eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee received 850 enquiries. Those, Choi revealed, translated into "hundreds" of applications, while some schools even reported a near two-fold jump in the number of applicants. Around 40 offers have since been made altogether. According to the latest QS World University Rankings, five SAR institutions made it to the top 100, led by the University of Hong Kong at 11th, up six places from the previous year. "The results are very encouraging. Nearly all of our universities have recorded a major improvement, including our first University of Applied Sciences," she said, referring to the self-financing Hong Kong Metropolitan University which made its debut in the rankings in the 781–790 range. "This demonstrates the strength of Hong Kong's higher education sector. We have what it takes to attract world-class scholars." Choi also brushed off suggestions that the government is scaling back support to the institutions, after the UGC-funded universities were asked to return HK$4 billion in grants to the government. "Our support to universities goes beyond funding. For example, if you look at our policies and resources, it seems rather unfair to focus only on the return of that HK$4 billion," she argued. "We've relaxed the quota for postgraduate students, and for that purpose we allocated additional resources to the universities, and boosted our scholarship programmes. All these measures benefited the institutions. We also have the new round of Research Matching Grant Scheme coming up." Choi emphasised the government's determination to lure in more overseas students, citing a new Development Bureau initiative to encourage private developers to convert hotels and commercial buildings into student dormitories.
RTHK
02-07-2025
- Business
- RTHK
'HK universities are attractive to foreign students'
'HK universities are attractive to foreign students' Christine Choi says the strength of Hong Kong's higher education sector is reflected by the latest QS World University Rankings. Photo: RTHK University applications from non-local students have been flooding in, the education chief says, as Hong Kong seeks to attract international students whose study plans may have been affected by Washington's shifting policies towards their own tertiary institutions. Secretary for Education Christine Choi also pledged both funding and policy support for the tertiary sector so that the SAR can develop into an international hub for post-secondary education. In an interview marking the third anniversary of Chief Executive John Lee's administration, Choi said local universities have already made offers to dozens of students having second thoughts about studying in the United States. "The institutions have responded quickly to the government's call to assist these students. They provided different convenience measures based on their own situation, including a dedicated email address for interested students wishing to make enquiries," she said. As of late last month, eight universities funded by the University Grants Committee received 850 enquiries. Those, Choi revealed, translated into "hundreds" of applications, while some schools even reported a near two-fold jump in the number of applicants. Around 40 offers have since been made altogether. According to the latest QS World University Rankings, five SAR institutions made it to the top 100, led by the University of Hong Kong at 11th, up six places from the previous year. "The results are very encouraging. Nearly all of our universities have recorded a major improvement, including our first University of Applied Sciences," she said, referring to the self-financing Hong Kong Metropolitan University which made its debut in the rankings in the 781–790 range. "This demonstrates the strength of Hong Kong's higher education sector. We have what it takes to attract world-class scholars." Choi also brushed off suggestions that the government is scaling back support to the institutions, after the UGC-funded universities were asked to return HK$4 billion in grants to the government. "Our support to universities goes beyond funding. For example, if you look at our policies and resources, it seems rather unfair to focus only on the return of that HK$4 billion," she argued. "We've relaxed the quota for postgraduate students, and for that purpose we allocated additional resources to the universities, and boosted our scholarship programmes. All these measures benefited the institutions. We also have the new round of Research Matching Grant Scheme coming up." Choi emphasised the government's determination to lure in more overseas students, citing a new Development Bureau initiative to encourage private developers to convert hotels and commercial buildings into student dormitories.
South China Morning Post
07-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong delegation promotes city as higher education hub in US and UK
The head of a committee overseeing funding for Hong Kong's public universities has led a delegation to the United States and the United Kingdom to promote the city as a destination for higher education. James Tang Tuck-hong, secretary general of the University Grants Committee, attended a conference in San Diego, California, on May 25, before flying to the UK for another forum in Birmingham. 'During the visit, Professor Tang also met with senior management and prominent scholars from top-tier higher education institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom to exchange views on the latest developments in higher education,' a spokesman for the committee said. Tang's visits came as the government pushes ahead with its 'Study in Hong Kong' campaign, launched in last year's policy address, which targets overseas students, especially those from Southeast Asia and countries under the Belt and Road Initiative. The campaign was launched after city authorities doubled the quota for non-local student intake in the city's eight publicly funded universities to 40 per cent in September last year. After the increase, about 30,000 places are available for non-locals. During the delegation's visit to the US, Tang spoke at the NAFSA Annual Conference and Expo about the strengths of the city's higher education sector and the opportunities it could present to overseas students.
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Why is Hong Kong scrimping on schools and splurging on elections?
The government took the machete to university funding in February, not only by announcing an expected 2 per cent cut over the next three years during the budget speech, but also with the University Grants Committee dropping the bombshell that the eight public universities would have to return HK$4 billion (US$510.7 million) from their reserves. How the government means to realise its ambition of developing Hong Kong as an international hub for post-secondary education while cutting finding remains a mystery; we can only have faith that the universities will figure out how to make ends meet. Given the government's fiscal resolve towards tertiary education, however, it should come as no surprise that it has no qualms about slashing a major grant to public primary and secondary schools too. Last week, Education Bureau officials met school representatives to propose a 10 per cent cut in the Expanded Operating Expenses Block Grant. Furthermore, schools under the direct subsidy scheme, which are considered semi-private, could face a 2 per cent funding reduction. Taking into consideration other recent developments, the government is putting serious heat on schools. Even with the encouraging news of the inflow of new students , members of families that have settled in Hong Kong via various talent schemes, schools might have to fight to survive.
RTHK
26-04-2025
- Business
- RTHK
No let-up in 'study in HK' push as enrolment soars
No let-up in 'study in HK' push as enrolment soars Christine Choi said that Hong Kong universities have seen a significant surge in non-local students. Photo: Courtesy of Commercial Radio Secretary for Education Christine Choi said Hong Kong must continue to consolidate its academic strengths and step up global promotional efforts after six of the city's universities were ranked in the top 50 of the latest Asian tertiary institution rankings – a testament to the high quality of higher education in the SAR. Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme on Saturday, Choi said Hong Kong universities have seen a significant surge in student intakes of non-locals following the government's decision to double their enrollment ceiling to 40 percent, reflecting strong demand for studying in the city. "We are committed to actively promoting Hong Kong's achievements on the global stage, which includes bringing our universities to joint overseas recruitment drives and participating in international higher education conferences and exhibitions to elevate the 'Study in Hong Kong' brand," she said. "Regarding resources, the University Grants Committee has allocated over HK$20 million to a dedicated promotion task force under the city's eight UGC-funded universities, empowering them to strengthen Hong Kong's global presence in higher education." But she urged institutions to adopt a gradual approach to expanding enrollment, warning that rapid increases could strain campus infrastructure and undermine the quality of student experiences. Choi also added that authorities plan to boost student accommodation availability over the coming years, ensuring resources keep pace with the growing influx of non-local students. The education chief also noted that recent US visa restrictions on international students have created instability, prompting parents to explore alternative options for their children's education in other locations. "Hong Kong holds strong appeal for overseas non-local students thanks to a combination of factors," Choi said. "Our universities offer numerous high-quality programs, including several that are ranked within the global top 10, which significantly attract students to choose the SAR," she said. "Additionally, recent US restrictions on student visas have introduced uncertainties for those planning to study abroad. "Parents and students are understandably cautious, as sudden visa denials can disrupt years of academic planning. This has led many to explore alternative destinations."
