CUHK unveils 5-year blueprint, eyeing Greater Bay Area, global reach

The Chinese University of Hong Kong has unveiled its strategic plan for 2026–2030, outlining the university’s development priorities and key initiatives over the next five years.

CUHK Vice-Chancellor and President Dennis Lo Yuk-ming said the CUHK 2026–2030 Strategic Plan aligns with China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan and supports Hong Kong’s first five-year development blueprint. As the world grapples with challenges such as the global race for talent and climate change, while artificial intelligence reshapes modern life, he said the university must adopt a forward-looking strategy to seize opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, transform challenges into opportunities, expand its international network and strengthen its global presence.

The plan adopts a “TIGER” action framework built around five strategic pillars: Talent Attraction and Development; Institutional Development; Global and Alumni Engagement; Education and Student Experience; and Research and Innovation.

Among the key initiatives, CUHK will establish a new graduate college, increasing the total number of colleges to ten and extending its collegiate system to postgraduate students.

The university will also introduce flagship international undergraduate programmes and distinctive student development initiatives incorporating innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability, while promoting industry-academia collaboration and knowledge transfer to attract and nurture talent.

The strategy also includes revamping general education by integrating national education with a global outlook, enabling international students studying in Hong Kong to gain a deeper understanding of China. CUHK will further strengthen collaboration with Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and other Greater Bay Area universities, while expanding exchange and internship opportunities both internationally and across the region.

In research, CUHK said it will build on its strengths as an international research university by attracting outstanding students, scholars and researchers from around the world to foster a diverse and inclusive academic community.

The university also aims to capitalise on opportunities arising from the Northern Metropolis, the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone and the Greater Bay Area. It will focus on frontier fields including life and health technology, artificial intelligence, quantum science and green technology, while further integrating into the national innovation ecosystem. CUHK also plans to participate actively in major national scientific projects spanning space exploration, polar research and deep-sea science, supporting the full innovation chain from Antarctic expeditions and space missions to world-class technology commercialisation.

CUHK Provost Isabella Poon said the university’s global alumni network now exceeds 300,000 graduates. Through closer collaboration between academia, industry and research, CUHK aims to address global challenges, strengthen its position as a leading education and research hub, and contribute to national development.

She added that to attract and retain top talent, CUHK will introduce a more transparent promotion pathway, leverage its collegiate culture to foster a stronger sense of belonging for academics and their families, and enhance AI literacy and capabilities across its teaching and administrative staff.