What can Cambridge teach Hong Kong about building university towns?

Professor Girish Menon, president of Lucy Cavendish College at the University of Cambridge, has shared insights on building successful university towns, drawing parallels between Cambridge's experience and Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis plan. Menon emphasized the importance of a strong government-industry partnership and interdisciplinary education in creating a financially viable and thriving university town.

He stressed that Hong Kong's cosmopolitan nature and diverse student body make it well-suited to foster global understanding and solidarity, key elements in a successful university town. Menon highlighted the need for a strong pastoral community, recreational opportunities, and connections to enterprise, the public sector, and civil society to support young people's well-being and success.

While acknowledging the critical role of science and technology, he cautioned against neglecting soft skills such as human relations, legal frameworks, and governance, which are equally essential for managing and sustaining a university town. Menon also pointed out the importance of sustainable architecture and future-proofing, as universities often own historic buildings that are costly to maintain and adapt.

He noted that Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis plan, with its three university towns of San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu, and Ta Kwu Ling, could serve as a model for a government-academia-industry partnership, learning from Cambridge's experience.