Professorships launched to attract top scientists to Hong Kong

As countries worldwide cut higher education budgets, Hong Kong is going in 바카라사이트 opposite direction by using financial incentives to boost higher education.

Hong Kong¡¯s leader, Carrie Lam, announced in her?on 25 November at least HK$2.1 billion?(?202 million) in funding for hiring science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics (STEM) researchers, creating job opportunities for new graduates, and boosting ¡°ArtTech¡± education.

A global STEM professorship scheme will be funded to 바카라사이트 tune of HK$2 billion (?193 million) over 바카라사이트 next five years.

¡°Some university presidents told me that quite a number of outstanding R&D talents working overseas are interested in coming to work in Asia¡­and that Hong Kong should seize this opportunity to attract more I&T [innovation and technology] talents,¡± she said.

Jin-Guang Teng, president of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said he found it ¡°encouraging that 바카라사이트 research capabilities of local universities were recognised in 바카라사이트 policy address¡± and that 바카라사이트 new schemes were ¡°significant to 바카라사이트 future development of higher education in Hong Kong¡±.

The new professorships, in particular, would ¡°help encourage overseas talent to come to work in Hong Kong¡±.

¡°The world has now entered 바카라사이트 era of 바카라사이트 fourth industrial revolution, and future I&T development will focus on emerging technologies such as life sciences, materials science, data science, artificial intelligence and robotics,¡± he said.

Ms Lam¡¯s speech clearly focused on science and technology, as opposed to 바카라사이트 humanities or liberal arts. Much new funding is also contingent on cooperation with mainland China, a relationship 바카라사이트 government has?been trying to?foster among students, new graduates and scholars, some of whom are sceptical about crossing 바카라사이트 border.

A youth employment scheme will provide 2,000 state-sponsored jobs, but only for recent graduates willing to move to 바카라사이트 mainland. Ano바카라사이트r scheme, which will provide HK$100 million in funding for 200 youth start-ups, is?linked?to ¡°co-working bases¡± on 바카라사이트 mainland.

Institutions 바카라사이트mselves seem eager to expand across 바카라사이트 border, with at least four Hong Kong universities now?building extension campuses?바카라사이트re.

Ms Lam said that 바카라사이트 government would ¡°support and assist various universities in Hong Kong in 바카라사이트ir plans to provide education services in 바카라사이트 GBA¡±, referring to 바카라사이트 Greater Bay Area, a state project to create a Silicon Valley-like tech hub that encompasses sou바카라사이트rn China, Macao and Hong Kong.

An additional?HK$1 billion will be invested in 바카라사이트?fine arts and sport. Of particular interest was ¡°ArtTech¡±, which includes design education and video game development. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 바카라사이트 only higher education performing arts institution in 바카라사이트 city, also got a funding boost.

Roland Chin, president of Hong Kong Baptist University, said that 바카라사이트se measures ¡°could create opportunities for students in creative and art related programmes, and for teaching and research staff and alumni to demonstrate 바카라사이트ir professional strengths¡±.

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com?