To bolster Hong Kong’s competitiveness, the Government aims to attract talented individuals to study in the city – but it also wants them to remain in Hong Kong after graduation.

Besides promoting the recently launched “Study in Hong Kong” brand, the Government offers Belt & Road Scholarships to talent from regions involved in the Belt & Road Initiative, with the expectation that awardees will contribute fresh ideas and new momentum to various sectors in Hong Kong upon finishing their studies.

Vincent Tjuatja, who completed his undergraduate degree in 2022, is one of many Belt & Road Scholarship recipients who have chosen to remain in Hong Kong after graduating.

He initially secured a position with an engineering firm, but has now returned to the academic realm to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in coastal and hydraulic engineering, focusing particularly on leak detection through so-called transient method.

“It will be great if it can be implemented in Hong Kong,” he said.

The Government launched the Belt & Road Scholarship in the 2016-17 academic year. It allows outstanding students from eligible countries and regions to undertake full-time, publicly-funded university studies in Hong Kong.

Since its establishment, the scholarship has been awarded to more than 680 students from 49 different countries. Many of the recipients are from Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan, and Vietnam, and emphasis is placed on fields such as business, engineering, and the sciences.

Vincent’s PhD supervisor, Research Assistant Professor Alireza Keramat, highlighted the contribution of such scholarships in enhancing Hong Kong’s reputation as a centre for high-level research and technology.

“It provides opportunities for internationalisation, non-local students coming to Hong Kong, and establishing Hong Kong universities among the top universities in the world,” he said.

Asia’s world city

Looking ahead, Vincent said he would like to stay in Hong Kong long-term if possible.

“Hong Kong is a very interesting place,” he explained. “It feels like it is not in Asia, but at the same time it is in Asia, like I used to hear a lot of people saying about East meets West. And I believe that in Hong Kong there is certainly this diversity.”

He added: “For me, right now, I am 24 years old, and I have stayed in Hong Kong almost 25% of my life. I am very comfortable now living in Hong Kong, and I think there are a lot of different parts of Hong Kong that I really enjoy. That is why, if possible, I would like to stay in Hong Kong for a long time.”

Another recipient of the scholarship, Vietnamese student Thi Chau Anh Nguyen, is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences in the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

She highlighted the sense of responsibility felt by scholarship students, explaining that they not only value the opportunities the scheme offers but also think about how they might reciprocate what they have been given.

Global focus

The Government’s efforts under the “Study in Hong Kong” brand are aimed at attracting global talent and positioning the city as an international hub for post-secondary education.

Jerry Ji, Principal Assistant Secretary for Education (Higher Education), outlined the Government's strategy.

“The initiatives include supporting local institutions to strengthen international exchanges and seize opportunities for development, thereby bolstering Hong Kong’s international standing.”

She also highlighted the Government’s commitment to hosting international education conferences and exhibitions that serve to foster collaboration between local institutions and their international counterparts around the world, and to attracting more students from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other Belt & Road countries to study in the city through provision of scholarships and other incentives.

“The initiative represents a significant step in enriching Hong Kong’s academic community and supporting its long-term development as a diverse and globally connected educational hub,” she said.

To retain talented graduates from outside of Hong Kong, the Government has introduced the Immigration Arrangement for Non-local Graduates to grant permits such graduates to remain in Hong Kong for up to 24 months after graduating from local tertiary institutions for pursuing their careers.