Sharp lesson in credentials credibility

It's often said that justice may be slow, but it's sure.

It certainly caught up with a 24-year-old mainland student, whose use of forged credentials to secure admission to the Business School of the University of Hong Kong eventually led to her conviction and 17 weeks in jail.

Wu Linhui had been admitted to the school's one-year postgraduate finance program in September 2022.

As she was about to leave Hong Kong in the middle of this year, she was stopped and arrested at the border.

She is the first person to face justice in connection with the Business School's crackdown on fake certificates and credentials. A number of students from the mainland were found to have used forged documents when applying to the school.

While the conviction taught Wu a lesson, in light of the large number of students involved, more prosecutions and punishments are needed before the university's reputation can be truly restored.

According to the Business School, in the early stages of the probe, more than 30 mainland students were found to have used forged credential papers.

School dean Cai Hong-bin then also revealed to mainland media outlet Caixin that the number could be as high as 80 to 100.

The successful prosecution of one case is a good start but it is by no means the end as police and the university look to bring more frauds to court to face justice.

A bigger victory against fake certificates is essential as authorities strive to transform the local education sector into an international education hub where not only mainlanders but also nationals from Belt and Road Initiative regions will be keen to come to continue their studies.

Although some higher education institutes in these regions are highly rated by organizations like Times Higher Education and Quacquarelli Symonds, the higher education bodies in Hong Kong are unfamiliar with most of these schools.

Reports of corruption among local officials in these regions have also been a concern.

As Hong Kong shifts its focus from traditional partners in the West to developing nations in BRI regions, educators will have to learn to, first, evaluate the academic qualifications issued by local bodies and, second, differentiate fake documents from genuine ones.

If Hong Kong is to achieve its aspiration of becoming a world-class education hub, it is necessary to preserve the essential elements of integrity and credibility.

There is no doubt that quality education provision can be a major economic driver. According to a Morgan Stanley report published mid last year, the global education market is projected to reach an estimated US$8 trillion (HK$62.4 trillion) in value by 2030 from US$6 trillion in 2022.

With some of Hong Kong's leading universities advancing in the global rankings in recent years, it is probable that the city can secure a share of the growing pie if its higher education institutes can maintain a high standard of academic achievement with the backing of a solid reputation.