HKUST Guangzhou holds open day in London to promote Britain-China academic exchanges

LONDON, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), or HKUST(GZ), held a Global Open Day in London on Sunday, bringing together academics and students from Britain and China to discuss research cooperation and educational exchanges.

The event, the first stop of the university's six-country European tour, featured academic recruitment sessions and a forum co-hosted with the University of Bristol on cooperation between British and Chinese universities.

Lionel M. Ni, president of HKUST(GZ), said Britain is one of the university's important partners and that the European tour aims to connect the academic strengths of European universities with the innovation ecosystem of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Academics and university representatives at the forum discussed research commercialization, cooperation between universities and industry, and ways to sustain international research partnerships. More than 100 people attended the discussion, according to the university.

Youth exchanges were also highlighted at the event, with British students sharing their experiences of study and exchange programs at HKUST(GZ). The university said nearly 700 young people from more than 60 countries have participated in its international short-term academic programs over the past three years.

Oliver Quick, associate pro vice-chancellor at the University of Bristol, said cooperation between the two universities had developed rapidly, adding that the two sides hoped to further strengthen exchanges in innovation, technology and student mobility.