Govt scholarships enhance HK status as global hub for higher education: education chief

Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin, during an award ceremony, stated that the purpose of the government scholarships is to recognize students who excel in various fields, attract more outstanding non-local students to study in Hong Kong, and enhance Hong Kong's status as an international hub for tertiary education.

In the 2024/25 academic year, the government awarded scholarships to more than 6,400 exemplary students through two major funds: the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund (GSF) and the Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund (SPEF). The total amount awarded reached approximately $196 million.

The scholarships were presented by Choi at a joint ceremony held on Thursday. This initiative supports both outstanding local and non-local students and includes specific awards for about 600 students with special educational needs (SEN) through the Endeavour Merit Award and the Endeavour Scholarship.

Choi emphasized the scholarships' role in attracting international students, thereby enhancing Hong Kong's status as a global hub for higher education. The schemes are aligned with national development strategies, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, aiming to strengthen Hong Kong's educational advantages and talent pool.

Established in 2008, the GSF offers five types of awards, including the Scholarships for Outstanding Performance and the Belt and Road (B&R) Scholarship. In the 2024/25 academic year, the GSF awarded scholarships to approximately 2,000 students, comprising about 1,200 locals and 800 non-locals. Around 1,400 of these were at the undergraduate level or higher, and 600 were at the sub-degree level. Notably, the B&R Scholarship was granted to 150 students from 31 countries, marking their first receipt of this award.

The Self-financing Post-secondary Scholarship Scheme (SPSS), established under the SPEF in 2011, aims to enhance the quality and sustainability of self-financed post-secondary education. It offers five types of scholarships, including the Outstanding Performance Scholarship and the Endeavour Scholarship. For the 2024/25 academic year, the SPEF awarded scholarships to approximately 4,400 students, with around 2,400 pursuing undergraduate degrees and 2,000 enrolled in sub-degree programs.

(Prashan Limbu)