150 Belt and Road students awarded HK scholarships

A total of 150 students from countries along the Belt and Road initiative will be granted scholarships to study in Hong Kong starting from the upcoming academic year,Under Secretary for Education Jeff Sze Chun-fai says.

The Belt & Road Scholarship program, which was launched in the 2016-17 academic year, has already awarded scholarships to over 430 students from 39 countries, as part of Hong Kong's efforts to attract global talent.

According to Sze, the most popular university degrees pursued by the scholarship recipients are business and administration, engineering, technology and science.

Sze added: "The importance of attracting overseas students to study in Hong Kong is that it increases the likelihood of them staying and contributing to the local talent pool after graduation.

"The selection committee responsible for awarding the scholarships evaluates applicants based on four main criteria - academic performance, communication and leadership skills, contributions to institutions and societies and commitment to Hong Kong society."

Chia Xynn Yen from Malaysia, who is studying quantitative finance at the University of Hong Kong, is one of the beneficiaries of the Belt & Road scholarship.Chia expressed her gratitude for the scholarship, which covers her full tuition in her second year.

"Hong Kong's reputation as an international financial hub was the primary factor that attracted me to the city, as it offers numerous job opportunities in the finance industry," she said.

Chia added that Hong Kong plays a crucial role as a link between China and the rest of the world, saying "Hong Kong serves as a hub for investment both into and out of China. This connectivity makes Hong Kong an ideal location for individuals interested in international business and finance."

Aybala Nisa Kesici, a third-year molecular biology and biotechnology student from Turkey studying at HKU, expressed her desire to remain in Hong Kong to establish her career: "Cities like Hong Kong are experiencing significant advancements in the field of science and are providing substantial funding for new biotech startups."

Kesici finds the research opportunities in the SAR to be highly interesting and believes the city offers a promising environment for her future endeavors.

In an effort to strengthen education cooperation with Belt and Road countries, the SAR government has been offering scholarships to students from designated countries along the Belt and Road regions since the 2016-2017 academic year.These countries include Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Mongolia.

In the 2021-22 school year, a total of 99 students were awarded the scholarship, amounting to a total of HK$29.6 million in scholarships.

charlotte.wu@singtaonewscorp.com