PolyU receives donation from China Merchants Foundation to establish China Merchants Belt and Road Scholarship

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is committed to fostering an international and diverse learning environment, attracting students from around the world to study and develop in Hong Kong. With a generous donation from the China Merchants Foundation, the China Merchants Belt and Road Scholarship has been established to support exceptional master’s students from Belt and Road countries and regions in pursuing postgraduate studies at the PolyU Faculty of Business. The inaugural scholarship presentation ceremony was held on 17 September at the Wong Man and Tang Kit Wah Global Student Hub on the PolyU campus. Four students from South Korea, Rwanda, Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia, enrolled in the Master of Science in Business Administration and Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management, were awarded an Admission Scholarship in recognition of their excellent academic achievements and impressive interview performances.

At the ceremony, Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU; Mr MIAO Jianmin, Chairman of China Merchants Group and Chair of the Board of China Merchants Foundation; and Mr Nicholas HO, Commissioner for Belt and Road of the HKSAR Government, delivered speeches. Mr YU Xiao, Vice Chairman and President of The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association, attended the event. Representatives from PolyU, China Merchants Group, The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association, alongside professors and students from PolyU Faculty of Business, and other esteemed guests, also attended to witness the scholarship presentation.

In his welcoming remarks, Prof. Jin-Guang Teng said, “We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the China Merchants Foundation for establishing this scholarship at PolyU, which underscores our shared commitment to advancing the Nation’s Belt and Road Initiative. As the first university in Hong Kong to embrace the Nation’s Belt and Road Initiative, PolyU co-founded the ‘University Alliance of the Silk Road’ in 2015, encouraging international cooperation in higher education. In recent years, the number of students from Belt and Road countries enrolling at PolyU has steadily increased. Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients. I encourage you to unleash your full potential, excel in your studies, and contribute to cultural exchange and collaboration between China and the Belt and Road countries.”

Mr Miao Jianmin said, “China Merchants, since its establishment in 1872, has consistently supported educational initiatives and talent cultivation, actively providing a broad platform for young people around the world to showcase their talents and realize their dreams.This scholarship aims to encourage outstanding students to pursue academic excellence and to promote professional and cultural exchanges among the Belt and Road countries and regions, contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind. We hope that the recipients will take this opportunity to serve as ambassadors to connect China with the rest of the world.”

Mr Nicholas Ho said, “Hong Kong, as a super connector and value-adder, plays a vital role in building a Belt and Road talent pool. This shared talent pool benefits not only our local development but also the Mainland, Belt and Road countries, and beyond. The Scholarship will enhance these efforts, helping to build a robust and shared Belt and Road talent pool that supports long-term collaboration and fosters global cultural exchange.”

Ms Hannah LEE, a scholarship recipient from South Korea who is currently studying for the Master of Science in Business Management, said, “Thank you to China Merchants Group for this scholarship. Not only has it provided me with invaluable financial support, but it has also motivated me to strive for academic excellence. I greatly cherish this opportunity and plan to stay in Hong Kong to work after graduation and give back to society.”

The China Merchants Belt and Road Scholarship comprises two categories: Admission Scholarship and Graduation Academic Scholarship. The Graduation Academic Scholarship will be awarded at the end of the 2025/26 academic year to six eligible master’s graduates who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and fulfil the required criteria.

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