April Zhang

Opinion | To be a belt and road education hub, Hong Kong must teach in Mandarin

John Lee’s ‘Study in Hong Kong’ plan emphasises attracting students from belt and road countries. But it also implies controversial changes in universities

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The main building at the University of Hong Kong in Pok Fu Lam. The city’s top university is ranked 35th by Times Higher Education. Photo: Dickson

April Zhang

Published: 9:30am, 27 Oct 2024

At the age of 17, Aristotle went to study at Plato’s Academy, where he spent 20 years, eventually developing his own system of knowledge. Clearly, he regarded knowledge as an end in itself. Being able to devote decades to study is wonderful for someone who just wants to learn, but most 17-year-olds today simply don’t have that luxury.

Education, especially postsecondary education, has become big business and is now regarded as an investment. Students face fierce competition to get into prestigious institutions that are seen as a gateway to a high-paying job. And there are plenty of industry experts, such as education consultants, ready to help them succeed.

Universities also have to woo candidates, and various rankings help them differentiate themselves. The Wall Street Journal, rather bluntly, has a ranking for the top US colleges that make new graduates rich.

Hong Kong’s universities do relatively well in the rankings tables. Five made it to the top 200 in the latest Times Higher Education list, with the city’s top institution, the University of Hong Kong, placing 35th. At the top of the global ranking is Britain’s Oxford University, leading for the ninth straight year, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States.

Compared to Hong Kong’s five, the US has 55 universities in the top 200, while Britain has 25, and Germany 20.

However, this is not going to be a rant about the state of postsecondary education in Hong Kong. Rather, it is a necessary premise to understand Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s proposal in his latest policy address to build a “Study in Hong Kong” brand, and its potentially controversial implications.