30 April 2025 

The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) and the Asia-Pacific Higher Education Research Partnership (APHERP) hosted the Conference for Higher Education Research – Hong Kong 2025 (CHER25) from 29 to 30 April 2025, to foster in-depth reflection on the internationalisation of higher education and deliver concrete policy recommendations for establishing globally influential education hubs in Asia. CHER 2025 at HSUHK was attended by near 300 scholars, policymakers, and students from more than 12 countries and regions. The event was held at HSUHK’s Sha Tin campus and its town centre, The Create, in the M+ Building, located within the West Kowloon Cultural District.

Themed “The Quest for Internationalisation of Higher Education: Comparative Perspectives and International Experiences”, the Conference addressed key issues such as student mobility, transnational education, international partnerships, and the integration of global perspectives into curricula. The Conference provided a valuable platform to foster deeper dialogue and collaboration between Asia-Pacific and global higher education communities. Participants include scholars from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Turkey, Belize, Ghana, Nigeria, Mexico, and the Philippines, highlighting the Conference’s global reach and interdisciplinary depth.

At the opening ceremony of the Conference, Professor Simon Ho, President of HSUHK, delivered a welcome address, and officiating guests of honour, Dr Jeff Sze, Under Secretary for Education of The HKSAR Government; and Dr the Hon Frankie Ngan, Legislative Councillor, delivered opening speeches. Dr Sze remarked that HSUHK as a leading self-financing institution in Hong Kong and highlighted the sector’s vital role in advancing the city’s development as an international post-secondary education hub. He noted that its agility and flexibility enable it to swiftly adapt to market changes and nurture future talents.

The Conference featured 80 academic paper presentations and poster presentations, that covered a wide spectrum of topics such as higher education policy, pedagogical innovation, internationalisation strategies, and cross-border academic practices. This dynamic exchange of ideas inspired interdisciplinary dialogue and opened new avenues for global academic cooperation.

The first roundtable forum of the Conference, titled “Questing for International Higher Education Hub in Asia: The Role of Public and Private Universities”, was moderated by Professor Joshua Mok, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research) at HSUHK. Prominent scholars participated in the discussion were Professor Anthony Cheung, Former Chairman of the Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education; President Simon Ho; Professor Paul Lam, President of Hong Kong Metropolitan University; and Professor Chan Sheng-ju, Vice President of Chung Cheng University from Taiwan. Together, they explored Asia’s strategic role and institutional innovations within the global higher education system and proposed constructive policy recommendations for governments to support and advance the internationalisation of higher education.

Another highlight of the event was a roundtable forum on exploring innovative teaching and research programmes. Leaders from 18 renowned institutions of education across Mainland China, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, South China Normal University, Xiamen University, and Nanjing Normal University, discussed strategies to deepen the integration of humanities and social sciences with STEM fields, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and address the diverse challenges and needs of contemporary society.

The two-day Conference also featured multiple keynote sessions by scholars from the University of Hong Kong, University of Oxford, Chengchi University and University College London, who shared insights on critical issues regarding the internationalisation of higher education.

Professor Cheng Kai-ming, Emeritus Professor of the University of Hong Kong, highlighted that education must prioritise nurturing the essence of humanity, empowering individuals as whole beings rather than being driven by economic reasons alone, especially in an era shaped by AI and growing social challenges. Professor Simon Marginson from University of Oxford and University of Bristol delivered a keynote address titled “The Emerging Geopolitical of Higher Education: Implications of Western Nativism and Deglobalisation”, during which he provided an analysis of the profound implications of Western geopolitical realignment on international academic collaboration, and expressed his belief that East Asia is poised to emerge as the next-generation hub for global scholarly partnerships.
Professor Hou Yung-chi of Chengchi University examined the rise of micro-credit systems in Asian higher education and their associated challenges. She called for strengthened quality assurance frameworks and regionally harmonised accreditation mechanisms to ensure academic rigor amidst rapid modularisations. Professor Andy Green from University College London shed light on the dual pressures of “degree devaluation” and precarious employment prospects confronting younger generations in the UK. He also stressed the urgent need for equitable resource distribution and sustainable policy reforms across global higher education systems.

During the Conference, a membership induction ceremony was held to welcome six prestigious universities into the APHERP network. Officiated by Professor Joshua Mok, who is also the Co-Director of the APHERP, the ceremony marked the addition of Beihang University, Durham University, The University of Manchester, Tongji University, Tsinghua University, and Xiamen University as new institutional members. Professor Mok remarked, “The inclusion of these top-tier institutions underscores APHERP’s expanding influence in global higher education research and reflects our collective commitment to advancing educational innovation and sustainable development.”