Collaboration between CUHK & CUHK, Shenzhen

Appointed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Rocky Tuan of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and President Xu Yang-Sheng of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen [CUHK (SZ)], the two universities jointly established a Task Force as a platform to promote collaboration between the two campuses.  The Task Force is co-chaired by Provost Professor Alan Chan of CUHK and Vice President Professor Tom Luo of CUHK (SZ) with the aim of strengthening the ties to bolster and elevate the University’s presence towards the accomplishment of strategic goals.  Qian Hai project has served as the source of opportunity which comprises of the establishment of research institutes in areas of global and contemporary China, and digital economics.  In addition to campus development and technology transfer, the Task Force will leverage on the opportunities arising from the development of the Greater Bay Area to explore exchanges and interactions in research and education, including joint supervision of students and cooperation in the Loop area, so as to drive the development of a comprehensive CUHK brand in competitiveness and status locally, nationally and internationally.

The Task Force has regularly meetings to report the progress of collaborative projects and the consensus is to work together, invest together to enhance the integration and development of the two campuses with joint efforts and mutual benefits.

Four subgroups were established under the Task Force to steer and support joint initiatives in different areas, namely Education, Research & Commercialization, New Initiatives, and Human Resources & Finance Policies. The Subgroups are co-chaired by PVCs and Vice Presidents of both universities in corresponding areas and meetings are held where in need to provide reports to the Task Force.

Recent developments under the Task Force

• The Task Force confirmed an approval procedure for new collaborative education programmes between the two campuses at its recent meeting in July.
• The Research & Commercialization Subgroup organized two joint symposiums online to foster academic exchange and research collaboration.

The Education Subgroup endorsed the collaboration agreement on joint supervision of PhD students in Engineering and the proposal on student interflow activities.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen [CUHK (SZ)] Joint Seminar Series is organized and planned by the Research & Commercialization Subgroup with the aim of serving exchange platform for research collaboration between the two campuses. Showcasing the research strength with talks given by distinguished scholars, the joint seminars have shared the latest research achievements in selected research areas with scholars and students from the two campuses to receive cutting-edge knowledge and strengthen interactive exchanges.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and CUHK-Shenzhen took their partnership to the next level through the signing of a new Strategic Collaboration Framework Agreement on 15 December. Both institutions are now focused on consolidating this highly successful partnership and the new agreement represents a statement of intent to jointly build a world-class center of excellence in higher education.

The hybrid ceremony was attended by a range of senior management representatives from both institutions as they witnessed the signing of the agreement by CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Rocky Tuan and CUHK-Shenzhen’s President Professor Xu Yangsheng.

Professor Tuan expressed the visions upon the signing of this agreement, “The execution of this agreement is of historic significance as both institutions consider how we can leverage our respective strengths and build a common innovation platform, providing direction to us as we focus our work over the next five years. The 14th National Five-Year Plan and the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area offer a vision for the integrated development of innovation and technology across the region. Both institutions must spare no efforts, and jointly work on the development of innovation and technology and nurturing innovative talents. CUHK has recently launched its new 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, and I believe that with coordinated strategic planning as our blueprint, both institutions will strive for stronger integration and coordination and we both acknowledge its growing importance.”

CUHK-Shenzhen was formally established in 2014 in what was a significant milestone in the development of the internationalization of higher education in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The new agreement will see both parties leveraging their respective strengths to work towards building a world-class university brand that is known widely nationally and around the world.