Hong Kong (September 7, 2026)— The inaugural Global Education Summit, co-organised by SCMP Learn and HSBC Premier at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, successfully convened nearly 11,000 attendees over two days to decode the future of learning, talent development, and international study pathways. Preparing young minds for tomorrow’s world has never been more competitive or complex.
Success depends on more than grades alone; it requires informed decision-making, early strategic planning, and timely access to the right guidance and opportunities. The landmark summit brought together visionary principals, distinguished policymakers, and prominent C-suite leaders across two immersive days to help families chart the road ahead through curated panels, interactive workshops, exhibition booths featuring representatives from 30+ leading local and overseas institutions, and candid dialogues with decision-makers.
Spotlighting both inbound education journeys into Hong Kong and outbound study routes to the UK, US, Singapore, and Australia, the summit delivered practical insights connecting academic choices to real-world outcomes.
Outlining the government’s strategic focus on strengthening local talent pipelines and expanding academic infrastructure, Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin highlighted concrete targets for STEAM discipline enrollment and university development: “We have set a clear goal. By the 2026-27 academic year, 35 per cent of all undergraduate students at our government-funded universities will be enrolled in STEAM disciplines. To support this, in the 2025-28 triennium, our universities are launching 27 undergraduate programmes related to STEAM, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, creative industries, sustainable development and data science. These are not theoretical courses. We drastically increased the reserved land for the campus area of the NMUT from the initial 60 hectares to approximately 300 hectares. When integrated with surrounding technology paths, industry zones, and vibrant communities, the broad and macro area of the NMUT spans more than 1,000 hectares.”
Highlighting education as a long-term investment in global partnership, Nicholas Ho, Commissioner for Belt and Road, emphasised Hong Kong’s commitment to building lasting people-to-people bonds across the region.”The strategic partnership between Hong Kong and the Belt and Road countries in education is a long-term investment in people. Through scholarships, internships, exchanges, and the infrastructure of places such as the Northern Metropolis University Town, we are cultivating mutual understanding, shared ambition, and the human capital that will sustain cooperation for decades to come. Education remains one of the most powerful instruments of people-to-people bonds and an engine for future economic growth. Hong Kong is proud to play its part—open, outward-looking, and committed to excellence.”
For Tammy Tam, Publisher, South China Morning Post, building Hong Kong into a global talent hub starts with bridging homegrown academic excellence with top-tier international institutions. “As Hong Kong’s leading international news organisation, the South China Morning Post is proud to serve as a bridge for these global communities. Over these two days, through SCMP’s platform and our partners, we are proud to showcase a vast network of world-renowned institutions. We start with our home-grown powerhouses, including: The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology—alongside top-tier universities and boarding schools across Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and beyond.”
Tammy added, “Hong Kong’s journey toward becoming a premier high-end talent hub is only beginning. Together, through education, innovation, and partnership, we are equipping all who come here to learn to thrive on the world stage.”
For HSBC’s Janet Pang, Managing Director and Head of Retail Business, Wealth and Personal Banking, Hong Kong, HSBC, today’s families are increasingly looking beyond mere capital accumulation, choosing instead to deploy their wealth into the skills and human capital needed for a fast-changing world. “We are meeting at a pivotal moment for Hong Kong. As we work collectively to strengthen the city’s status as a premier global education hub, we are seeing a fundamental shift in how families define success. It is no longer just about the accumulation of wealth; it is about the application of it to create opportunity—and increasingly, it’s about building skills that keep pace with a fast-changing world.”
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The SCMP is the premier English-language news platform rooted in Hong Kong, reaching a global audience with authoritative and comprehensive insights about Greater China, including Hong Kong’s development. With more than 122 years of publishing excellence, SCMP has been providing insights into key news topics in Asia and global dynamics impacting this region through the lens and perspectives of Asia, while hosting high-calibre events and conferences engaging key decision-makers, top government officials, business leaders and experts. Read more with SCMP: www.scmp.com
