HKUST(GZ) and InterAction Council have signed MOU to establish World Young Leaders Academy

On October 9, President Lionel Ni of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) (HKUST(GZ)) and Bertie Ahern, Co-Chair of the InterAction Council and former Taoiseach of Ireland, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Beijing. The agreement outlines a collaboration to establish the World Young Leaders Academy, aimed at nurturing young leaders with exceptional talents in fields such as technological advancements, industrial transformations, innovation and entrepreneurship, politics and economics, humanities, and arts from around the globe.

The signing ceremony was attended by Olusegun Obasanjo, Co-Chair of the InterAction Council and former President of Nigeria; Petar Stoyanov, former President of Bulgaria; Boris Tadic, former President of Serbia; Danilo Turk, former President of Slovenia; Essam Sharaf, former Prime Minister of Egypt; and Peter Medgyessy, former Prime Minister of Hungary. Professor Qi Ye, Acting Dean of the Socia lHub at HKUST(GZ), presided over the ceremony.

From October 8th to 11th, former political leaders including Ahern participated in the 38th Annual Plenary Session of the InterAction Council and the China International Friendship Conference, which celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries in Beijing.

President Ni emphasized that signing the MOU with the InterAction Council marked a significant milestone in HKUST(GZ)'s internationalization efforts since its establishment over two years ago.  Leveraging its competitive advantages in leading global higher education's interdisciplinary revolution and talent cultivation paradigm shift, HKUST(GZ) will collaborate with the InterAction Council's network of former world leaders and global entrepreneurs, closely aligning with key development strategies initiated by "Global South" countries, such as the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, to jointly chart the development blueprint for the World Young Leaders Academy.

Ahern noted that signing the MOU represented an important collaboration between the InterAction Council and HKUST(GZ). Education is the best gift for the next generation, and today’s world needs scientific and technological talents. He expressed his hope for the success of the joint venture in establishing the World Young Leaders Academy. Obasanjo added that education can create a brighter future for the world and humanity. Attracting outstanding young people from different countries to the Academy, and providing them with opportunities to interact, learn, and understand the world will be an excellent educational approach.

cnbayarea.org.cn