From 10 to 16 May 2026, a delegation of students and staff from The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) visited Shandong University of Finance and Economics (SDUFE) for a seven-day academic and cultural exchange programme. Themed “Intangible Cultural Heritage and Leadership”, the study tour was co-organised by EdUHK’s Department of Education Policy and Leadership (EPL), SDUFE’s International Office, and SDUFE’s School of Public Administration and Policy. This marked the second exchange visit since the two universities established their strategic partnership in 2024. The 20-member EdUHK delegation embarked on a learning journey that integrated traditional culture and modern leadership in Shandong, deepening inter-institutional ties and promoting the sharing of educational resources between Shandong and Hong Kong.
Reunion in Jinan, Shandong
On 10 May, the delegation arrived at Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport and was warmly welcomed by SDUFE staff and students. A welcome dinner that evening, with greetings exchanged between the two sides, set the stage for the intensive programme ahead. The opening ceremony was held on the SDUFE campus. In a video address, EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin expressed gratitude to the Shandong Provincial Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office and SDUFE for their support, and looked forward to welcoming more SDUFE staff and students to Hong Kong for exchange. Professor Zachary Walker, Head of the Department of Education Policy and Leadership, and Dr Ho Chun Sing Maxwell, Assistant Professor (and Co-Director of the Academy for Educational Development and Innovation), also sent video messages expressing their hopes for intangible cultural heritage transmission and the nurturing of young leaders. Tian Yuan, Party Committee Secretary of SDUFE’s School of Public Administration and Policy, presided over the ceremony and delivered a speech, extending a warm welcome to the delegation and encouraging the youth of both universities to strengthen friendship and grow together through mutual learning. Yang Chunxiao, Director of SDUFE’s International Office, also attended and addressed the ceremony, expressing hopes for deeper collaboration and the joint advancement of education between Shandong and Hong Kong. EdUHK staff representative Peng Shiyan shared her expectations for deeper exchange and mutual learning among youth. Student representatives from both sides expressed that they would cherish the exchange opportunity to enhance understanding and build friendships through shared learning. At the ceremony, the two universities exchanged university and departmental gifts, symbolising the wish for enduring collaboration.
EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin delivered a video address
Exchanging University Gifts
Exchanging Departmental Gifts
Thematic Lectures
During the visit, a series of engaging thematic lectures were held. Professor Fan Zhenghong delivered a lecture on Chinese civilisation and the history of Qilu, guiding students to gain an in-depth understanding of the pluralistic yet integrated pattern of Chinese civilisation and the unique contributions of Qilu culture. Professor Guo Jianfeng gave a talk entitled “Digital Intelligence Empowering: Bridging Shandong and Hong Kong—A Cross-domain Dialogue in the Era of Computational Finance and Large Models”, offering insights into the integrated application of computational finance and artificial intelligence, and showcasing practical applications of related technologies in national security, urban governance and technological innovation, thus stimulating students’ thinking on digital-intelligence leadership. Dr Zhang Baofeng also vividly interpreted key issues in leadership and public governance, from anti-corruption to integrity building, sparking lively discussion and reflection among the participants.
Cultural Experience
Dr Pang Sijia, known as the “Intangible Cultural Heritage Bearer of the City of Springs”, conducted a special paper-cutting cultural experience class for the EdUHK group. She elaborated on the types and historical evolution of paper-cutting and displayed her exquisite works. Under her guidance, the staffs and students created a “Baotu Spring Koi Fish” paper-cutting design, experiencing the vitality of intangible cultural heritage. The delegation also visited SDUFE’s School of Art and the Haidai Art Museum. Led by Yuan Huimin, Deputy Dean of the School of Art and Curator of the Haidai Art Museum, they admired precious collections of rubbings, from Han dynasty inscriptions to pictorial bricks and stones, gaining an appreciation for the timeless charm of rubbing culture. In addition, the delegation visited the Dongfang College of SDUFE, where they immersed themselves in cultural activities such as Mount Tai tea art appreciation, traditional Chinese music performance, and intangible cultural heritage rubbing, experiencing the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture and intangible heritage through the melodies of Chinese instruments and the fragrance of tea.
Furthermore, EdUHK staff and students visited Mount Tai. As the world’s first mixed cultural and natural World Heritage site, Mount Tai not only features a wealth of ancient architecture and cliff inscriptions but also carries a rich intangible cultural heritage. The delegation climbed to the summit of Mount Tai with a guide, visited temples, and amidst the magnificent mountain scenery, embraced the vision and resilience embodied in the poetic line “I will reach the very top of the peak; I see all mountains small beneath my feet”, deepening their sense of responsibility for the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage.
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Campus Visit
The delegation toured SDUFE’s campus facilities, including the university’s achievement exhibition hall, gaining an in-depth appreciation of the cultural heritage and academic traditions across SDUFE’s multiple campuses. At Dongfang College, EdUHK staff representatives gave detailed introductions to EdUHK’s educational philosophy and the academic directions of the Department of Education Policy and Leadership. Using the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Executive Management programme as a case study, they explained the operation model and talent cultivation features of Hong Kong higher education, promoting mutual understanding between the two places’ higher education sectors.
During the student fellowship activity, participants quickly warmed up through fun games on Shandong and Hong Kong culture and daily life, filling the venue with laughter and joy. SDUFE students thoughtfully prepared intangible cultural heritage souvenirs representing 16 different regions of Shandong, such as Weifang kites and Luban locks. In return, EdUHK students presented heartfelt gifts symbolising Hong Kong and EdUHK, and they promised to continue their friendship in the future.
Visit to Inspur
The delegation visited Inspur Group, a leading Chinese cloud computing and big data enterprise and the world’s second-largest and China’s top server and cloud manufacturer. Through the exhibition hall and guided explanation, they witnessed first-hand its three major business segments, such as computing infrastructure, intelligent cloud and big data services, and digital-intelligence solutions. They learned about the company’s development history and the application of AI technologies in urban, industrial and security fields. Amazed by the strength of homegrown technology, the students gained a more concrete understanding of strategic leadership in the data era.
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Closing Ceremony
On the morning of 15 May, the closing ceremony was held, with SDUFE Vice President Peng Hongfeng attending and delivering a speech. He remarked that the delegation had immersed themselves in SDUFE’s educational legacy, the profound connotations of Qilu culture, and the sincere friendship between Shandong and Hong Kong youth. He described the visit as a journey of intellectual enrichment and a cross-regional cultural rendezvous, and expressed hope that the two sides would explore new models, pathways and mechanisms for cooperation. EdUHK staff representative Tsang Yuet Yi noted that the tour had further deepened participants’ understanding of SDUFE’s distinctive educational features, the richness of Qilu culture, and Shandong’s development practices, and looked forward to sustained and deeper exchanges. A highlight video of the visit was screened, vividly presenting the fruitful outcomes of the exchange from the perspectives of campus exploration, youth dialogue, cultural tracing and academic debate. Vice President Peng Hongfeng then presented each member of the delegation with a certificate of completion, witnessing this journey of learning and reflection across Shandong and Hong Kong.
EdUHK student representative Kao Wai Wa, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Executive Management student, delivered a speech at the closing ceremony
SDUFE Vice President Peng Hongfeng presented certificates of completion to the students
The seven-day short-term exchange programme, centred on the theme of intangible cultural heritage and leadership, employed a diverse range of formats including thematic lectures, campus visits, cultural study tours, enterprise visits, and student fellowship activities. It allowed EdUHK staff and students to appreciate the profound civilisation of the Qilu region while gaining insight into the innovative forces of the digital-intelligence era. Youth from both places forged sincere friendships through dialogue and strengthened their national and cultural identity through cultural experiences. The event not only consolidated the strategic partnership between EdUHK and SDUFE but also infused new momentum into educational cooperation between Shandong and Hong Kong by promoting the inheritance of intangible cultural heritage and leadership cultivation.
Watch the tour highlights:
Outstanding Learning Portfolio by EdUHK Student Delegates:
