Welcome to the 77th edition of CUHK in Focus.
It was a great honour for CUHK to be the local lead host of the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition 2026 from 23 to 27 February. The APAIE Conference is one of the most significant international conferences in the global higher education arena. This year’s event was a highlight of the Study in Hong Kong Week, a strategic initiative of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to invite participants from around the world to experience an education system that is unique in offering both outstanding quality and a diversity of opportunities in Asia’s World City. Thirteen years ago, CUHK had the privilege of hosting this gathering of international education professionals and leaders from around the world. This year, we were thankful that APAIE had once again chosen Hong Kong as its stage.
Hosting the APAIE Conference in Hong Kong aligns seamlessly with the Government’s blueprint for our city to develop as an international education hub. It allows us to showcase the distinct competitive edge of our robust tertiary education system to the world. This year’s theme, “Asia-Pacific Partnership for the Global Good”, demonstrates our shared responsibility to bring in our strengths to advance education, transcending borders and disciplines. Here in Hong Kong, a city known for connecting people from across the world, we are uniquely positioned to nurture meaningful partnerships and people-to-people exchange that can create a positive and lasting impact not only in our region, but around the world. The active participation of all our guests from local, mainland and overseas institutions is a big step forward in our pursuit of impactful global partnership.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all other University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities for co-hosting the event with CUHK. Our collective efforts have helped to ensure that APAIE 2026 has offered participants the opportunities to gain fresh perspectives on Hong Kong as a beacon of academic excellence and innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. Besides, the Conference would not have been possible without the support of our important partners and sponsors. I would like to thank the Education Bureau, the UGC and the Hong Kong Tourism Board for their staunch support.
Extending our foothold in the GBA
CUHK celebrated the launch of a new facility in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area this week. With the support of the Shenzhen Qianhai Administration, the CUHK InnoHub for New Quality Industries was set up in 2025. A special ceremony was organised yesterday to mark its grand opening. The University management, alongside officials from Shenzhen and Hong Kong government departments, partners and representatives from science and technology enterprises, were invited to witness the official inauguration and participate in a start-up project exhibition and roadshow activity.
Located within the Qianhai Shenzhen–Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, the CUHK InnoHub for New Quality Industries serves to extend the function of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub of the Shenzhen Research Institute, CUHK. Leveraging the advantages of the industrial cluster in the GBA, the new facility focuses on providing cross-disciplinary incubation services, deepening university–enterprise collaboration and supporting the development of the GBA as an international innovation powerhouse. It prioritises the commercialisation of research outcomes and project incubation in critical fields such as artificial intelligence, big data and medical technology. This InnoHub, alongside CUHK’s other education and research facilities across the GBA, will work closely with all cities in the region under the principles of “resource sharing and complementary strengths”. The partnerships will support national development to propel the GBA as a world-class hub for talent and scientific research and a vital engine for innovation-driven modernisation.
Tribute to Honorary Graduates
CUHK recognised the remarkable achievements of four distinguished individuals at the 96th Congregation for the Conferment of Honorary Degrees taking place last week. The Honourable Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, GBM, GBS, JP, Dr Michael Hui Koon-man, JP, Professor the Honourable Lau Siu-kai, GBM, GBS, JP, and Professor Sunney Xie Xiaoliang were conferred an Honorary Doctorate for their notable contributions to their own professional field and the community at large. The University is extremely delighted to forge stronger bonds with these outstanding individuals whose unwavering dedication to excellence has been an inspiration to the entire CUHK community. Please join me in offering our heartfelt congratulations to the four newly conferred Honorary Graduates on this richly deserved accolade and our best wishes for their greater success in the years to come.
I look forward to sharing more stories with you in our next edition.
Dennis Lo Yuk-ming
Vice-Chancellor and President
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
