HKU Reception in Vietnam 2026: Connecting Academia and Sustainable Collaboration Between Vietnam and Hong Kong
16/01/2026
On Jan 13,2026, the HKU Reception in Vietnam 2026 successfully took place in an elegant and welcoming setting, bringing together leaders from educational institutions, corporate partners, international organizations, and chambers of commerce, alongside representatives from The University of Hong Kong (HKU). The event served not only as a distinguished networking occasion but also as a strategic platform for dialogue and collaboration across talent development, leadership education, research, and innovation.
Under the theme “Global Prestige. Local Connection. Infinite Possibilities,” the reception highlighted HKU’s role as a dynamic bridge linking Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Vietnam, as well as academia with industry. The event emphasized how global academic excellence can connect meaningfully with local priorities and real-world needs in Vietnam.
Reinforcing HKU’s Long-Term Commitment in Vietnam
In his opening remarks, Professor Phan Quang Tuan, Chief Representative of HKU Vietnam, reflected on the three-year journey of HKU Vietnam and the institution’s evolving mission in the country. He underscored that HKU is not only introducing internationally benchmarked academic programmes to Vietnam but also actively engaging with local contexts to build deep, sustainable partnerships.
Following this, Professor Jay Siegel, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong, provided insights on HKU’s internationalisation strategy, emphasizing Vietnam as a key partner in the Asia-Pacific region. Professor Siegel highlighted how HKU combines world-class academic rigor with flexible collaboration models to address local and regional priorities. His remarks reaffirmed HKU’s ongoing commitment to advancing highly skilled human capital and fostering impactful partnerships.
Perspectives from Business and Leadership Education
The programme also featured insights from the corporate perspective. Mr. Adrian Chan, Executive Education Executive Director of HKU Business School, spoke to the rapid development of Vietnamese enterprises and the growing need for advanced leadership capabilities. He highlighted the vital role that executive education and leadership development play in equipping current and future leaders to navigate a fast-changing global business environment.
HKU Business School’s approach to connecting academic excellence with real-world business challenges was emphasized as essential to nurturing leaders with strategic vision and practical skills relevant to the Vietnamese market.
Adding a personal dimension to the event, Mr. Tim Koo, CEO of Normsun Vietnam and HKU alumnus, shared his own journey through the HKU academic ecosystem. His reflections illustrated how global academic standards, paired with local relevance, have meaningfully impacted his leadership development and professional growth. This perspective highlighted the tangible value that an HKU education can deliver to individuals operating in a multilingual and multicultural business context.
Strategic Collaboration: MOU Signing
A major highlight of the reception was the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between HKU School of Governance and Policy, HKU Business School, and GenAI Fund. This strategic partnership focuses on three key areas: executive education, applied research, and governance and policy capacity-building.
Under the MoU, the partners will jointly develop leadership training programmes in Vietnam, conduct research related to governance, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence, and support policy dialogue efforts between academic, business, and public sectors. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to connecting global expertise with Vietnam’s practical needs, driving long-term and sustainable impact.
As the event concluded, HKU Reception in Vietnam 2026 was widely recognized as an effective platform for forging stronger connections across academia, business, and international partners. The reception not only reaffirmed HKU’s long-term commitment to Vietnam but also opened doors for future cooperation that can support the country’s development goals, particularly in building a highly skilled workforce and fostering innovation.
