Professor Freddy Boey, President and University Distinguished Professor of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), discussed the University’s efforts and achievements in promoting international education and fostering innovative academic and scientific research in an exclusive interview with the China Media Group (Asia Pacific) earlier.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is dedicated to developing Hong Kong as an international education hub and building the "Study in Hong Kong" brand. CityUHK is actively participating in this initiative. President Boey stated in the interview that CityUHK has strengthened exchanges and cooperation with renowned universities around the world, including those in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, and has implemented various measures to attract international students to study at CityUHK. At the same time, CityUHK offers various scholarships and exchange programmes to provide students with opportunities for overseas exchanges and learning experiences.

President Boey also mentioned CityUHK’s Distinguished Visiting Professor Scheme, noting its success in attracting esteemed scholars from prestigious institutions, such as the University of Cambridge, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to CityUHK to work alongside CityUHK faculty and students promote interdisciplinary scientific and academic research. Since its launch in 2023, the Scheme has attracted over 50 world-class scholars to visit CityUHK.

President Boey expressed confidence in Hong Kong’s future as an international higher education hub, believing that with the continued dedication of universities and strong government support, the city can offer excellent opportunities for students and professionals. He hoped that Hong Kong would leverage its unique strategic advantages and collaborate with mainland universities in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities, thereby promoting the development of higher education in Asia.

CityUHK made significant strides in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings 2025, ranking 10th in Asia, a remarkable leap of seven spots from last year, and third in Hong Kong. President Boey underscored CityUHK's unwavering commitment to promoting international education and fostering innovative academic and scientific research. He detailed the University's efforts to attract top global talent and expand its international footprint, thereby creating a diverse and dynamic academic environment. "The word 'University' contains the word 'Universe',” he said “Managing a university requires more than a local focus; it requires a global vision. Over the past year, I travelled around the world with CityUHK members in our efforts to attract top international talent to CityUHK."

Marking its 30th anniversary as a university last year, CityUHK established several new institutes, including the Academy of Innovation, the Institute of Digital Medicine, the College of Computing, and the Hong Kong Institute of AI for Science. According to President Boey, CityUHK is committed to transforming research outcomes into practical applications in these new establishments. He believes that the related measures and support are highly attractive to young scholars interested in entrepreneurship.

The full interview is available here.

Media enquiries:
Sunny Liu, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 9322 or 5462 9710)