City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is committed to developing partnerships with esteemed universities worldwide to foster greater academic and research collaboration. CityUHK recently further committed to a co-operative relationship with the Science, Engineering and Technology Group at KU Leuven, which has a history of nearly 600 years and is the oldest Catholic university in the world.

A high-level delegation, led by Professor Freddy Boey, CityUHK President, visited KU Leuven on 27 August and met Professor Luc Sels, Rector of KU Leuven. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by President Boey and Professor Sels, to foster the existing academic relations and develop new relations in a spirit of mutual benefit and full reciprocity.

Under the MoU, the two institutions agreed to explore the feasibility of developing joint bachelor’s degree programmes, exchanges of faculty, visiting scholars, and post-doctoral research fellows working on cooperative education programmes, and collaboration in research. 

To complement CityUHK’s continuing focus on digital medicine and biochemical engineering, both parties also explore the feasibility of academic, research and teaching collaboration in areas such as mechanical engineering and health technology. The agreement also encourages joint research projects in areas of mutual interest.

“We are very excited to collaborate with the Science, Engineering and Technology Group at KU Leuven in Belgium,” said President Boey. “This partnership demonstrates our dedication to forging dynamic alliances with global partners, in keeping with our reputation as one of the most international universities in the world. We look forward to joining hands with the Science, Engineering and Technology Group at KU Leuven to promote inspirational, interactive and innovative learning and world-class research.”

The delegation was warmly received by the senior management of KU Leuven and the Belgian authorities. President Boey exchanged views with the two Vice Rectors of KU Leuven: Professor Gerard Govers, Vice Rector for the Science, Engineering and Technology Group, and Professor Peter Lievens, Vice Rector for International Policy. In addition to visiting the university, they also met with Mrs Geertrui Vanloo, General Manager of the Leuven City Government, and had a fruitful discussion during dinner.

The CityUHK delegation included Professor Michael Yang Mengsu, Senior Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise), and Yeung Kin Man Chair Professor of Biomedical Sciences; Professor Li Wen Jung, Vice-President (Talent and International Strategy); Professor Steven Wang, Associate Vice-President (Resources Planning), and of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and School of Energy and Environment; Professor Johnny Ho Chung-yin, Associate Vice-President (Innovation and Enterprise), and of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering; Professor Yu Xinge, Associate Director of Institute of Digital Medicine, and of the Department of Biomedical Engineering; Professor Yang Lu, Adjunct Professor (Mechanical Engineering); and Ms Pheck Choo Ng, Director of the Office of the President.

CityUHK is committed to promoting academic and scientific research collaboration by establishing partnerships with esteemed universities and organisations worldwide. Founded in 1425, KU Leuven has a rich history of nearly 600 years. It is the oldest Catholic university in the world and also the oldest university in the "Low Countries" (the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg). Additionally, it is currently the highest-ranked university in Belgium and it topped Reuters' list of Europe's Most Innovative Universities between 2016 and 2019 for four consecutive years.

Notable partners include (in alphabetical order) the National University of Singapore, Peking University (China), Satbayev University (Kazakhstan), Tsinghua University (China), the University of Cambridge (UK), and the University of Johannesburg (South Africa).

Please visit the thematic website for more information about CityUHK’s global partnerships.

Media enquiries: Julian Ng, Communications and Institutional Research Office, CityUHK (Tel: 3442 2569/ 9271 9769)