On Thursday 18 April 2024, and during a brief visit to Malta in order to attend a conference on student assessment (the OECD PISA PGB Meeting being hosted by Malta between 16 – 19 April 2024), Hong Kong’s Secretary of Education, Dr Christine Choi visited the University of Malta.
The scope of the visit was for Dr Choi to get to know more about the latest developments of our university, and to extend a wish for the UM’s to expand its engagement with universities and higher Education and research institutions in Hong Kong.
A very productive meeting took place with UM Rector Prof. Alfred J. Vella, UM’s Pro-Rector for International Development & Quality Assurance, Prof. Frank Bezzina, and UM’s Director and Deputy Director of the International Office, Ms Stefania Agius Fabri and Ms Victoria Gauci respectively.
Dr Choi was accompanied by her delegation, consisting of Mr Martin Wong, Administrative Assistant to the Secretary for Education, Mr Vincent Hui, Assistant Secretary (Further Education), and Ms Annie Loong, Assistant Representative, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels.
The delegation engaged in conversation on possible academic collaborations focusing on more regular and formalised exchange opportunities and research collaborations. Hong Kong presents itself as a strong candidate for such partnerships with the UM.
Dr Choi was aware of the ongoing research collaborations between the UM and Hong Kong based universities and research institutes and two UM students who are currently studying at the Chinese University of Hong Kong for the duration of a semester. The latter students were selected through ISEP, the International Student Exchange Programme.
The opportunity for further collaboration is certainly ripe.