The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) pledged on Thursday to beef up efforts in attracting international students, especially from emerging economies such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Türkiye, after admitting 600 non-local students for the new academic year.

The initiative comes after the government proposed increasing the non-local undergraduate admission quota at publicly-funded universities from 20 to 40 percent in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s Policy Address last year.

During a Thursday press conference, the school revealed that for the coming academic year, it has enrolled over 600 non-local students, including students from the Chinese mainland, the United States, Europe, Australia, Africa, and other regions in Asia.

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Over the past few years, the university has admitted approximately 500 non-local students annually for its undergraduate programs, consistently ranking highly among the eight subsidized universities in Hong Kong for international student enrollment.

HKUST President Nancy Chu Ip Yuk-yu has expressed strong support for the increased quota, emphasizing that attracting more international undergraduate students will enhance campus diversity and internationalization.

In April 2024, Ip led a delegation to the UAE and recruited three students who received full national scholarships from the Abu Dhabi Ministry of Education to study undergraduate programs in Hong Kong.

One of the scholarship recipients, Sara Suhail Alshansi, 18, from the UAE, is currently a freshman at HKUST’s School of Engineering.

She said she appreciates the enriching learning environment at HKUST, where she can explore new courses and make friends from around the world.

Alshansi added that she admires the stunning natural landscapes and culturally diverse city life in Hong Kong, which she believes offers endless opportunities for exploring the world.

In May, HKUST signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia to set up a designated scholarship for Indonesian students.

The first 16 scholarship students  have already arrived at HKUST, and are preparing to commence their studies.

One Indonesian student, M Syah Fi Rizq, 18, currently studying in the School of Humanities and Social Science at HKUST, expressed his fondness for the environment in Hong Kong.

He said he values the opportunity to study in Hong Kong. He loves everything about the city, including the environment and the people he has met, but he needed to return to serve his country first after graduation because of the scholarship requirements.

Yonathan Kidanemariam, 20, from Ethiopia, is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management at HKUST's School of Business and Management.

He said he had received offers from the United States, but chose to study in Hong Kong, believing that the diverse cultural environment can provide him with a broader outlook.

As a business student, he especially highlighted the city’s appeal as a financial hub, drawing financial practitioners from all around the world.

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Kidanemariam said he aims to pursue a dual degree in computer science and global business to enhance his prospective startup’s operations in the HKSAR and many overseas countries.

HKUST has also introduced scholarship programs to attract outstanding students from countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative and other regions with lower rates of students coming to study in Hong Kong.

The university is actively expanding its facilities, including dormitories, to meet the needs of international students. It encourages all undergraduate students to experience living in on-campus dormitories, which provide a convenient, affordable, and safe environment to meet more university friends and expand their social circle.

Contact the writer at stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com