Dr Ewan Wright, Associate Professor in the Department of Education Policy and Leadership, has undertaken a research project entitled “A Higher Education Hub for Doctoral Education: The Case of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme.”
The project is funded by the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Please click HERE to access a “research brief” that outlines the major findings and policy recommendations.
Abstract
The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) is a flagship higher education hub policy designed to attract the “best and brightest” students from around the world to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree at Hong Kong’s universities. Each year, it provides a competitive scholarship to 400 students, including an annual stipend and a conference and research-related travel allowance. Prior to this study, no empirical research had been undertaken on any aspect of the HKPFS, despite its strategic importance in meeting multiple policy goals, such as developing the higher education sector in Hong Kong, improving the global standing of Hong Kong’s universities, enhancing the talent pool within the labour force, and bolstering the image of Hong Kong as an international city. The research team conducted a mixed-methods study of non-local HKPFS awardees from the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world. This involved a survey of non-local HKPFS students (n = 253), followed by in-depth interviews with non-local HKPFS students (n = 50) and non-local HKPFS graduates (n = 50) from all of Hong Kong’s public universities. A supplementary study involving international PhD students at a leading university in the United Kingdom provided comparative insights. First, the findings demonstrate that the HKPFS has played a key role in attracting talented students globally to enter PhD programmes in Hong Kong. Second, the participants emphasised the high quality of their academic training, and most showed academic productivity through conference presentations and journal article publications. However, they also perceived the social aspect of their PhD experience as underdeveloped, with relatively limited social integration into university and local communities. Third, most participants were motivated to pursue academic careers and, in many cases, the PhD from Hong Kong provided a springboard to positions at universities worldwide. The policy recommendations focus on strengthening the HKPFS by increasing awareness of Hong Kong as a world-class PhD destination, supporting positive academic and social experiences during the PhD, and promoting longer-term contributions to Hong Kong following graduation. It is anticipated that these recommendations will play a pivotal role in building on the successes of the HKPFS, thereby further supporting the Hong Kong Government’s higher education hub ambitions.
For further insights into the research, you may view a presentation by Dr Ewan Wright by clicking HERE.
Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material (or by members of the research team) do not represent the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and/or the Assessment Panel.