EdUHK Delegation Visits UAE to Deepen Academic Collaboration and Expand Multidimensional Exchanges
A delegation led by Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, President of The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 3 February 2026. In addition to attending the World Government Summit, the delegation also engaged in multiple academic exchange activities and courtesy visits to diplomatic missions. During the visit, they held a series of meetings with its long-standing partner, the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), participated in an international business forum, and was received by Minister Zhao Liang, Charge d’affaires a.i. of the Chinese Embassy in the UAE, and H.E. Ou Boqian, Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Dubai. These engagements further expanded EdUHK’s academic influence and collaborative network in the Middle East.
Delegation members included Ms Gai Huixia, Associate Vice President (Mainland Engagement and Development), Professor Sin Kuen Fung Kenneth from the Department of Special Education and Counselling, Professor Alfredo Bautista, Associate Head of the Department of Early Childhood Education, Dr Yang Lan from the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, and Dr Wang Yifei Faye, Project Manager of Internationalisation.
During the visit, the EdUHK delegation met with the senior management team of UAEU, led by His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, the University’s Chancellor, and Professor Ahmed Ali Al Raeesi, Vice Chancellor. Both sides reviewed the remarkable achievements of their longstanding partnership, including the launch of dual-degree programmes, the establishment of a joint research fund supporting four collaborative research projects, and continued student and faculty exchanges as well as co-organised academic conferences. The meeting also mapped out future directions for collaboration, such as expanding student exchange opportunities, initiating joint projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and exploring new cooperation in key disciplines including business and education. The high-level dialogue further strengthened the strategic partnership built on mutual trust and laid the foundation for broader, deeper and more systematic collaboration between the two institutions.
Building on this shared vision, academic staff from both universities held in-depth discussions to develop concrete discipline-based projects. Key areas included co-authoring academic publications, co-organising international conferences, and designing culturally immersive exchange programmes—aiming to translate strategic consensus into sustainable academic actions.
At the invitation of Phoenix TV, Professor Lee accepted an exclusive interview of the TV station and joined its "Phoenix Go Global: Global Development Forum" as a distinguished guest held during the World Government Summit. Themed "From Governance to Joint Growth – The Evolving Role of China-Middle East Cooperation," the event gathered senior government officials and business leaders from the UAE, Oman and other Middle Eastern countries, including Mr Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and CEO of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre; Ms Sheikha Al-Mahrouqi, Director of International Communication at Oman’s Ministry of Information; and Mr Daniel Sellers, Foreign Direct Investment expert at UAE Ministry of Investment. Through active engagement in the forum, the EdUHK delegation gained valuable insights into the region’s strategic development and industrial trends—particularly the UAE’s vision of becoming a global leader in future technologies. These understandings provide important reference for EdUHK’s future educational, research and talent development collaboration in the Middle East.
The delegation also visited the Chinese Embassy in the UAE in Abu Dhabi and was received by Minister Zhao Liang, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. During the meeting, both sides discussed the important role of higher education institutions in serving national development strategies and fostering closer cultural ties under the China–UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Mr Zhao expressed the Embassy’s full support for EdUHK’s continued collaboration and looked forward to the University’s greater contribution to advancing China–UAE educational exchange, cultural dialogue and talent cultivation.
Earlier, the delegation visited the Chinese Consulate General in Dubai and met with Consul General H.E. Ou Boqian, who shared an overview of the UAE’s current development dynamics and Dubai’s strategic initiatives to address global challenges. She noted that Dubai is actively building a digital and innovation-driven economy with strong emphasis on AI applications, yet faces a shortage of talent in fundamental research. This, she said, presents significant opportunities for international higher education institutions. She also offered strategic advice on how EdUHK could align its academic strengths with local development priorities to foster in-depth and sustainable partnerships with UAE institutions. Later, some members of the delegation attended the 12th Global Chinese New Year Gala in Dubai at the invitation of the Consulate General—a long-running cultural celebration that allowed EdUHK to connect more closely with the local Chinese community and promote cross-cultural exchange.
Through multi-dimensional engagement with partner universities, international media, diplomatic missions, and overseas Chinese communities, EdUHK has further deepened its participation and influence in the educational and cultural arenas in the UAE, paving the way for more diversified collaboration initiatives in the region.
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EdUHK Delegation Visits UAE to Deepen Academic Collaboration and Expand Multidimensional Exchanges
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