More space needed for HK's talent drive: HKU chief

Hong Kong possesses the necessary talent, but it must address issues such as reducing bureaucracy and increasing laboratory space to meet the education objectives of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, as stated by the president of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Xiang Zhang. In an interview with RTHK's "Vision 15: Hong Kong's Chapter," Zhang outlined a strategy for the city to become China's global education leader, which entails simplifying administrative processes and expanding university facilities.

Zhang emphasized that top scholars require both superior equipment and an intellectually stimulating environment. The university must streamline the procurement of equipment, reimbursements for travel, and other administrative tasks to facilitate this. Additionally, Zhang stressed the need for additional space, with the university currently only occupying one-sixth of the area occupied by Tsinghua University in Beijing.

To achieve this, HKU is undertaking a significant expansion, constructing 20 new buildings, half of which will be dedicated to student housing, with completion projected within three years. Zhang anticipates that this expansion will attract more international students. He further envisions HKU becoming China's "world classroom" by recruiting top scholars and students globally.

In terms of curriculum, Zhang is steering HKU away from traditional disciplines towards interdisciplinary learning, launching degrees that combine science and the arts. He believes that with the rapid advancement of AI, students must be educated in multidisciplinary fields to adapt to a rapidly changing job market where individuals may change careers every few years.

While Zhang acknowledges the importance of technology education, he also advocates for the significance of humanities education, arguing that creativity stems from exposure to the arts and various philosophies. He hopes to champion these humanities-focused programs, despite the rarity of such approaches in other universities worldwide.