The US government has escalated its crackdown on Harvard University, revoking its authority to enroll international students and exchange scholars in a move that has sent shockwaves through academic circles.
The decision, announced by the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday, forces current international students at the prestigious Ivy League institution to transfer to other universities or risk losing their legal status in the country.
Harvard has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the move, which affects approximately 6,800 international students from more than 140 countries, including 1,282 from China. The university's international student population represents over 27 percent of its total enrollment, with the majority enrolled in graduate programs.
The Department of Homeland Security cited Harvard's repeated violations of federal laws and failure to fully comply with requests for information about foreign students as the basis for its decision. While current seniors will be allowed to graduate as planned, other international students must transfer to maintain their legal standing in the US.
In response to the development, six of Hong Kong's eight publicly funded universities have rolled out special measures to attract affected students.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) will expedite admission decisions, credit transfers, visa processing, and housing arrangements for affected students. City University of Hong Kong (CityU) is offering special scholarships and inviting students' original advisors to serve as co-supervisors for doctoral candidates. Lingnan University has established a dedicated channel for online submissions.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) stated that its admissions teams will provide comprehensive guidance and scholarship consideration, while the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) reaffirmed its commitment to welcoming outstanding international students with full support services. Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) will offer flexible admission arrangements, including direct offers with personalized assistance
The Education Bureau has also stepped in, urging all local universities to implement facilitative measures and reaching out to Harvard's Hong Kong alumni network to coordinate assistance.
Education experts suggest the controversy may significantly dampen Hong Kong students' interest in American higher education, with many likely to consider alternatives in the UK, Australia, or Canada instead. Consultants reported a surge in inquiries about British universities following the announcement, with some students reconsidering applications to Oxford or Cambridge as alternatives to Ivy League schools.
While the long-term implications remain uncertain, observers note that Harvard's academic reputation remains intact, and the university's influential alumni network may help mitigate the impact on current students' future prospects. The incident marks the latest development in ongoing tensions between the US government and elite academic institutions over international student policies.
