CityUHK Council Chairman visits Doha, Qatar to strengthen strategic academic partnerships in the Middle East
Professor the Honourable Michael Ngai, Council Chairman of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), and Professor Li Wen Jung, Vice‑President (Talent and International Strategy), undertook an official visit to Doha, Qatar in October. They held high‑level engagements with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar Foundation, the Academic Bridge Program (ABP), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) and its affiliated research institutes. The visit expands CityUHK’s global partnership network across the Middle East and advances the University’s strategic roadmap for global talent development and collaborative research.
On the first day of the visit, the delegation held a closed‑door meeting with H.E. Dr Ibrahim Saleh Al-Naimi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education of Qatar. Both sides exchanged views on the internationalisation of higher education, talent mobility and joint training frameworks. Dr Al-Naimi voiced strong support for bilateral collaboration and proposed leveraging ABP as a partnership bridge. He emphasised that both sides should start with practical, actionable initiatives to build sustained, robust higher education ties between Qatar and Hong Kong.
The delegation also visited the University City in Doha and met Dr Francisco Marmolejo, President of Higher Education at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development; and Dr Saheim K. Al‑Temimi, Director of ABP. Discussions centred on articulation pathways and innovative talent development initiatives, as well as how to collaborate on the development of the Northern Metropolis. ABP, an initiative under Qatar Foundation, is a distinguished pre‑university programme for high school graduates from Qatar and across the region. Launched in 2001, it has nurtured over 4,500 students, around 90% of whom pursue further studies at universities in Qatar or overseas.
Subsequent meetings were held with the senior leadership of HBKU, including Dr Ahmad M. Hasnah, President; Dr Prabhat Hajela, Provost; and Ms Maryah Al‑Dafa, Vice‑President for Development and Strategic Planning. Faculty members and leaders from the College of Science and Engineering and the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) also took part. Participants explored collaboration opportunities in interdisciplinary research spanning biomedical sciences, cell screening, wearable technology, computer science and advanced engineering, as well as joint laboratory development, faculty exchange and joint PhD supervision. The meetings deepened mutual understanding, advanced existing collaborative projects and opened new avenues for joint research and innovation.
CityUHK has steadily expanded its academic links with Belt and Road countries and the Middle East, and previously signed a Framework Collaboration Agreement with HBKU. The visit consolidates the University’s strategic presence in the Middle East, advances two‑way academic exchange, attracts global talent and elevates the University’s international profile. CityUHK will continue to work with Qatar’s leading higher education institutions to develop long‑term, sustainable collaborative programmes and co‑build an international research and talent ecosystem.
CityUHK is committed to establishing partnerships with world-renowned universities and institutions to promote academic and research collaboration. For more information about CityUHK’s global partnerships, please visit our thematic website.