The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) opened its HSUHK (Nansha) Centre alongside its incorporated office in Nansha, Guangzhou in May 2025. The initiative has been heralded as a milestone in the University’s development and expansion in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). With the establishment of the HSUHK (Nansha) Centre and a growing network of partnerships, HSUHK is deepening its presence in the GBA and in Chinese Mainland, opening transformative opportunities for students, faculty, and the wider community.
A strategic presence
Legally registered as a Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise, the HSUHK (Nansha) Centre has quickly become a hub for academic and professional exchange. “The Centre is a bridge that connects our students and faculty with opportunities in the Mainland,” said Dr Ken Yau, Head of Global Affairs at HSUHK. “By deepening collaboration among academic and administrative units, we are strengthening our visibility and building meaningful partnerships in the region,” he continued.
The HSUHK (Nansha) Centre is instrumental in enhancing the University’s outreach. From engaging in education expos to facilitating partnerships with prominent institutions such as Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), Jinan University, Guangdong University of Economics and Finance, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, and South China Normal University (SCNU), the Centre ensures that HSUHK is well-positioned within the GBA’s vibrant educational and professional landscape.
HSUHK’s broader vision for regional integration is crucial to these efforts. Professor Joshua Mok, Provost and Vice-President (Academic and Research), noted “It is an important national strategic development goal to promote inter-university collaboration across the cities within the GBA. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) cannot shy away from being more proactive in supporting national development projects, and HSUHK is committed to pursuing opportunities in programmes, research, student mobility, and other inter-university collaborations.”
Professor Mok further highlighted HSUHK’s unique “Liberal + Professional” educational model and how HSUHK’s approach differentiates us from other institutions: “We create an integration of technology and the humanities. This is unique to HSUHK. Our education model greatly appeals to our partner institutions and ensures that our students are more globally prepared.”
Expanding horizons for students
Beyond institutional partnerships, HSUHK is dedicated to enriching student experience with first-hand exposure. The Student Affairs Office (SAO) has launched a series of internship programmes and career exploration tours in the GBA. These initiatives are supported by substantial funding, including HK$2.8 million from the Youth Committee of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau for Mainland Internship projects in Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Xi’an.
The HSUHK Hong Kong-Greater Bay Area Dual-Place Internship Programme is an innovative initiative that offers a three-month full-time internship in the GBA and another three-month part-time internship in the HKSAR. The Programme enables students to develop strategic insights into cross-border business operations, that significantly enhances their career prospects and employability.
Alongside career development, HSUHK is investing in entrepreneurial capacity-building. The GBA Youth Start-up and Social Innovation Programme, a HK$7.8 million, three-year initiative led by HSUHK’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and funded by the Youth Development Fund of the Government of the HKSAR, offers mentorship, financial support and networking to help students and alumni transform entrepreneurial ideas into impactful ventures.
Professor Jeanne Fu, Vice-President (Learning and Student Experience) emphasised the transformative impact of these opportunities. “I encourage all students to embrace the opportunities available through HSUHK’s initiatives in the GBA. Whether launching a start-up, joining internships, or exploring new industries, you have access to powerful resources, mentorship and networks that can shape your future.”
For students, these experiences have been both eye-opening and career-shaping. Bella Chan (BBA (Hons) in Economics, Year 4) and Edwina Kwok (BBA (Hons) in Corporate Governance and Compliance, Year 4), joined SAO’s GBA activities in the 2024-25 academic year. Bella shared her reflections on her internship at Mead Johnson Nutrition (China) Co., Ltd, saying “Marketing may not seem directly related to economics, but both fields are about understanding human behaviour. The internship gave me practical insight into predicting consumer preferences and solidified my interest in marketing.”
Edwina described her experience during the 2025 Career Exploration Tour in Guangzhou as transformative. With visits to companies such as EHang Intelligent Technology and Lee Kum Kee, she saw sustainability and ESG principles in practice. Edwina elaborated, “The experience crystallised my career ambitions. I now aspire to work at the intersection of green technology and finance, bridging Mainland innovation with the HKSAR’s capital markets.”
Fostering academic exchange
The HKSAR Government aims to position Hong Kong as a global education hub by attracting talent and serving as a bridge between the Mainland and the world. By fostering collaborations with international and Mainland institutions, HSUHK will enhance its reputation while helping Mainland universities gain global recognition. Professor Mok elaborates “This aligns with the HKSAR’s broader role as a connector between East and West, a position HSUHK is uniquely equipped to fulfil through its innovative academic approach and strategic initiatives.”
HSUHK’s presence in the GBA also opens doors to cross-border research and professional training. To name a few of many collaborative initiatives, the School of Transdisciplinary Studies has launched a Professional Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management at the HSUHK (Nansha) Centre, while collaborations with Durham University, SYSU and SCNU offer further academic pathways for students and professionals.
The Institute of Knowledge Exchange (IKE) at HSUHK partnered with CTF Life to offer consultancy and training services to family offices and related practitioners in the GBA, strengthening cross-border professional networks and advancing the HKSAR’s vision as a global hub for education and innovation. IKE also collaborates with the Greater Bay Area Medical Professional Development Association to develop training courses for medical professionals to apply emerging technologies in the GBA community.
Looking ahead
Reflecting on HSUHK’s growth and developments in the region, Professor Simon S M Ho, President of HSUHK remarked: “As the GBA continues to evolve into an essential stronghold for economic, cultural and educational innovation, HSUHK’s initiatives demonstrate not only foresight but also a deep commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders with a global vision.”
The University will continue to drive its strategic expansion through its HSUHK (Nansha) Centre, aiming to enhance academic and professional offerings in the GBA. Professor Mok shared: “I am coordinating with the deans of our five Schools to consolidate a plan on how to best optimise the use of our HSUHK (Nansha) Centre for the promotion of programmes, hosting public seminars, and offering professional and executive training.”
In September 2025, HSUHK’s Graduate School (GS) and the School of Transdisciplinary Studies (STS) hosted a special seminar at the HSUHK (Nansha) Centre for students interested in postgraduate studies in Hong Kong. In November, GS and STS held the International Symposium on Promoting Cross-border Education: Management and Quality Assurance Issues in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Higher Education Research Partnership, SCNU and Cheng Chi University at the Nansha Centre, where scholars from Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan presented their latest research findings.
By forging partnerships with the GBA institutions and beyond, and by prioritising research, knowledge exchange, and student development, HSUHK will host more international academic events at the HSUHK (Nansha) Centre, while fostering mutually beneficial collaborations that drive academic excellence and innovation.