'World unis to step up collaboration over NM'

Vice Chancellor and President of the University of Sydney, Mark Scott, attended the World Class University Presidents Forum in Hong Kong and praised the city's leading position in education. He emphasized that Hong Kong's institutions ranked in the world's top 100, as per QS World University Rankings 2027, suggest much to learn from the city. Scott highlighted the commitment of leadership in investing in higher education, research, and learning as crucial for economic growth, prosperity, and a richer, fairer society.

Ebrahim Al Hajri, president of Khalifa University of Science and Technology in the UAE, expressed excitement about the Northern Metropolis project. He believed that the project would foster collaboration between institutions to create local and global impact through research without borders, connecting technology, development, research, and talent cultivation. Al Hajri also mentioned the translation of research into commercial opportunities to benefit society and the economy at large.

Dawn Freshwater, executive director of the Worldwide Universities Network, a global higher education network, stated that the Northern Metropolis represents a significant moment for institutions to rethink global collaboration. Freshwater highlighted that it's not just about the scale and concentration in Hong Kong but about a beacon of excellence globally for partnership, collaboration, and solving issues facing civilization.

Fudan University president, Jin Li, expressed belief that the Northern Metropolis can further help Hong Kong connect to the world. He also emphasized that the mega hub is crucial for the Special Administrative Region (SAR) to contribute to the nation's development.