When a PolyU delegation travelled across Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka this summer, the journey was about far more than visiting campuses and meeting prospective students. It was a reflection of the University’s long-term vision to connect Hong Kong with emerging regions around the world through education, research, cultural exchange and people-to-people ties.

Led by Council Chairman Dr Lam Tai-fai and Vice President (Student and Global Affairs) Professor Ben Young, the delegation visited Chinese embassies, leading universities, Confucius Institutes, secondary schools and student communities in Kathmandu, Dhaka and Colombo. The visit aimed to strengthen PolyU’s presence and partnerships across South Asia while exploring opportunities for academic collaboration, student recruitment and engagement with overseas Confucius Institutes. Across the three countries, discussions focused on talent development, intercultural understanding and the shared opportunities created by international higher education.

Dr Lam Tai-fai met with Mr Yao Wen (left), Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Bangladesh, and Mr Qi Zhenhong (right), Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka.

The visit comes as South Asia attracts increasing attention from higher education institutions worldwide. With a young population and expanding university sector, the region presents new possibilities for academic exchange and collaboration. Through engagements with university leaders, educators and students, the delegation explored opportunities for collaboration and strengthened connections across the higher education community in the region.

The programme also highlighted the University’s extensive network of international partnerships. Over the years, PolyU has worked with universities, research institutes and industry partners around the world to advance education, research and knowledge transfer, creating opportunities for student exchange, joint initiatives and academic cooperation.

The PolyU delegation visited North South University in Bangladesh and the Confucius Institute hosted at the university.

A distinctive feature of the visit was the delegation’s engagement with Confucius Institutes hosted by local universities. As centres for Chinese language learning and cultural exchange, these institutes help local students and communities learn more about Chinese culture and contemporary China. The visits echoed PolyU’s own initiatives to promoting Chinese culture and national education through initiatives such as the Confucius Institute of Hong Kong, the Patriotic Education Bases established in both Hong Kong and Xi’an, and its annual Chinese Culture Festival.

Spanning three countries and a diverse range of institutions, the visit reinforced PolyU’s links with partners across South Asia and its longstanding commitment to international exchange.

Visits to D.S. Senanayake College (left) and the University of Colombo and its Confucius Institute (right) formed part of the PolyU delegation’s programme in Sri Lanka.

Members of the PolyU delegation posed for a group photo with students at Tri-Padma Vidyashram Secondary School in Nepal.