Open campuses in Guangdong

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen recently inaugurated its School of Medicine and School of Music, or the Shenzhen Conservatory of Music. The two departments have begun admitting their first batch of students.

The University of Hong Kong has also signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Shenzhen municipal government to start a business school in the city, while the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Guangzhou has been topped out in September. The campus is due to open next year.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) previously rolled out a pilot program on the Hong Kong campus for HKUST Guangzhou enrolling research postgraduate students. The number of applications for the 2021-22 school year had reached about 1,500 by May 18, HKUST Guangzhou officials said at a news conference that day.

Lionel Ni Ming-shuan, who heads the HKUST Guangzhou, said in an earlier interview that it could be further developed as the university's Hong Kong campus has limited space.

Earlier this year, the HKUST signed a memorandum of understanding with Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corp, providing for deeper cooperation in technology. The university and the corp are also preparing to set up Hong Kong Science Park and Guangzhou Nansha Co-incubation Base, which will pave the way for further research and development, as well as technology talent pools within the Greater Bay Area. This would enable startups and young professionals to move to Nansha district conveniently.

Ni said collaboration between the HKUST and HKSTP will intensify exchanges between research and development workers and technology entrepreneurs in the Greater Bay Area. This will enhance the ecosystem for entrepreneurs in Hong Kong and on the mainland who wish to expand their markets.

Besides Hong Kong universities that are eager to expand on the mainland, the mainland's tertiary institutions are also trying to beef up their presence in the SAR.

Shenzhen University is planning to set up a branch in Hong Kong. If the project is realized, Hong Kong students could learn more about the mainland's business environment and prepare them to work or live across the border in future, said Li Qingquan, president of Shenzhen University.

He said deeper communication and exchanges among higher education institutions is a core aspect of the Greater Bay Area's development.

"Mainland schools should also expand in the HKSAR to attract more international professionals and transform their research results, stimulating Hong Kong's economy," Li said.