From June 21 to 23, Professor Li JIN, Vice President and Acting Dean of the Business School at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), led a delegation to participate in the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) Asia Universities Summit held at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

Prof. Li JIN engaged in exchanges with global academic leaders in higher education and joined the panel discussion “Deep dive into research across the region”.

The summit took place in CUHK's Henry Cheng International Conference Centre

Presidents group photo

The panel focused on issues and mega-trends impacting research in Asia. China, like many other Asian countries, is confronting risks and complexities, such as issues related to rapid urbanization, an aging population, financial risks, wealth management concerns, and social inequality. Prof. JIN proposed that universities must continuously reform and upgrade themselves, adapt to the changes of our time and new social demands, and engage in extensive collaboration with academic, social, and global partners.

Panel discussion on the topic of“Deep dive into research across the region”

Prof. JIN also shared the distinctive features and research practices of SUSTech, which has been playing an increasingly active and vital role in building the innovation eco-system and human capital system within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The University has provided a continuous source of nourishment for the innovation and entrepreneurship eco-system of the region.

During the summit, he exchanged views with global academics, discussed partnership and project issues, and explored future cooperation opportunities.

He met with Nancy Y. IP, President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST); Eng Chye Tan, President of the National University of Singapore (NUS); Ananya Mukherjee, Vice-Chancellor of Shiv Nadar University; Deborah Buszard, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia (UBC); Nobuhito Saito, Executive Vice President of the University of Tokyo (UTokyo); Jae Young Kim, Executive Vice President for Research Affairs of Seoul National University (SNU); William Kirby, Chairman of the Harvard China Fund; Simone Dilena, President of THE APAC; Elizabeth Shepherd, Managing Director of Consultancy at THE; and Sophia LI, Regional Director of Greater China at THE, among others.

SUSTech Global delegation in discussion with UBC  Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Deborah Buszard

SUSTech Global also held a demonstration showcasing SUSTech's institutional strengths to delegates in the Country Pavilions area of the summit. The area was composed of three pavilions – Greater China, India, and the wider international community – and offered institutions the chance to highlight their distinctive qualities over the three days of the summit.

The THE Awards Asia 2023 ceremony also took place during the summit at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center. SUSTech was shortlisted for the “Leadership and Management Team of the Year” and “Student Recruitment Campaign of the Year” awards.

2023 THE Asia Universities Summit & THE Asia University Rankings

To celebrate its 60th anniversary, CUHK partnered with THE to host the THE Asia Universities Summit between June 21 to 23, 2023. The three-day summit was themed “The Asian University in 2050” and was joined by 35 presidents from top universities across the globe.

Over 500 leaders and experts in higher education from 30+ countries and regions gathered to discuss three major issues: “Partnerships and University Alliances”, “Research Strategies and Emerging Trends”, and “Internationalization and Student Experience”.

The summit featured the revealing of the THE Asia University Rankings 2023, with a total of 669 universities from 31 countries and regions included. SUSTech ranked 23rd in Asia and 8th in the Chinese Mainland. Notably, SUSTech received a citation score of 95.5, ranking first among Chinese Mainland universities.

By Yang XU

Proofread By Adrian Cremin, Yingying XIA