Professor Freddy Boey, President and University Distinguished Professor of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), recently gave an exclusive interview to the China Media Group, in which he discussed his philosophy of education and innovation. President Boey envisions universities as centres for talent development and innovation and emphasises the critical role of attracting and retaining global talent to achieve technological leadership and academic excellence.

President Boey stated that CityUHK has always been committed to transforming research outcomes into practical applications. He hopes that within five years, CityUHK will become a leader in the field of research and innovation and the top choice for young scientists looking to innovate and start businesses. To achieve this, CityUHK has advocated for a triangular collaboration model, involving talent, governments and industry in the recently established CityUHK institutes: the Academy of Innovation, the Institute of Digital Medicine, and the Hong Kong Institute of AI for Science.

CityUHK has actively expanded its collaboration with the mainland. The establishment of CityUHK (Dongguan) last year marks a new stage in higher education cooperation in the Greater Bay Area. President Boey highlighted that CityUHK (Dongguan) maintains the same high standards as CityUHK, offering students equal opportunities, including overseas study programmes and special arrangements for pursuing master's degrees in Hong Kong. He emphasised CityUHK's commitment to providing students with opportunities for international academic exchanges, internships and research to encourage them to broaden their global perspectives. "When you come to CityUHK, you come to the world,” said President Boey.

Additionally, President Boey mentioned that CityUHK is actively building connections with top universities worldwide, including countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, to promote academic and research collaboration. This includes signing agreements with renowned institutions in Indonesia and Kazakhstan offering their students the opportunity to study at CityUHK.

Please click here to watch the full interview.