The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) becomes a founding member of the newly established Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) on April 29 in Beijing. Originated by Tsinghua University, AUA consists of 15 Asian universities, aiming to enhance cooperation and communication among universities in the region, and play a role in solving regional and global issues.
The AUA pledges to promote mobility of students, scholars and staff among all members, to strengthen research collaboration and joint innovation, to establish high-level dialogues and forums to discuss higher education strategies and policies, and to compile and publish annual reports on Asian higher education.
Prof Shyy Wei, HKUST Executive Vice-President and Provost, attended the launch ceremony and was pleased to witness the establishment of the consortium. “We believe with the establishment of the AUA there can be open exchanges. Even though the language may not be the same, our interests are the same and are very compatible.”
HKUST is the only founding member of the Asian Universities Alliance in Hong Kong. As an international research university with strong ties to global thought leaders, HKUST seeks to contribute in internationalization among other consortium members. “Our experience will serve as a valuable case study for other universities to consider,” said Prof Shyy.
Addressing regional and global challenges in the areas of higher education and economics and scientific and technological development is central to the group’s mission. The group also seeks to give Asian universities a bigger voice in the global stage as focus of the world economy is shifting to the continent.
The fifteen founding members of the Asian Universities Alliance include: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Chulalongkorn University, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, King Saud University, National University of Singapore, Nazarbayev University, Peking University, Seoul National University, Tsinghua University, United Arab Emirates University, Universitas Indonesia, University of Colombo, University of Malaya, The University of Tokyo, University of Yangon.
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (www.ust.hk) is a world-class research university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. HKUST attained the highest proportion of internationally excellent research work in the Research Assessment Exercise 2014 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee, and is the world’s second in the latest QS’ Top 50 under 50 ranking. Its graduates were ranked 13th worldwide and top in Greater China in Global Employability University Survey 2016.
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