PolyU supports the Global University Presidents & Leaders Summit 2024

The Global University Presidents & Leaders Summit 2024, organised by the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship, was successfully held on 2 – 3 December 2024 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

Supported by the collaborative efforts of University Grants Committee, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and eight other government-funded and self-financed universities in Hong Kong, the Summit brought together over 50 esteemed university presidents and educators from around the world for invaluable discussions and collaborations on topics such as AI, globalization, innovation, science and technology, and more. To further facilitate cultural and knowledge exchange for youth, the organiser also welcomed more than 50 outstanding overseas students to the Summit.

PolyU invited the following five renowned university leaders to join the Summit (in alphabetical order of surname):

• Professor Aliya Aktymbayeva, Deputy Vice-Rector for Scientific and Innovation Activities for Sustainable Development, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Kazakhstan)
• Dr Dieter De Bruyn, Senior Policy Advisor at Rector’s Office, Ghent University (Belgium)
• Professor Tony F. Chan, Immediate Past President, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia)
• Professor Alojzy Z. Nowak, Rector, University of Warsaw (Poland)
• Professor Ilaria Valente, Vice Rector for International Affairs, Politecnico di Milano (Italy)

Professor Jin-Guang Teng, President of PolyU chaired a session on “Ethics and Value Building of AI Technology in Society”. Five distinguished speakers were invited to join the session together with President Teng to share their insights on the topic. These speakers included Professor Jon Garibaldi, Provost and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of University of Nottingham Ningbo China; Professor Shu-cai Li, President of Shandong University; Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of University of Glasgow; Professor Zhe-min Tan, President of Nanjing University; and Professor Ilaria Valente, Vice Rector for International Affairs of Politecnico di Milano. The discussions centered on the importance of transparent AI governance, responsible innovation, and collaborative efforts between policymakers, technologists, and civil society to ensure AI’s development benefits humanity while upholding ethical principles. These discussions provided participants with valuable insights into shaping the future of AI to serve the common good responsibly and equitably.

In addition, Professor Ben Young, Vice President (Student and Global Affairs) of PolyU, engaged in a dialogue session with other university leaders and overseas student participants. During this session, the university leaders shared their expertise and experiences, particularly focusing on academic and career development concerns raised by the participating students.