The Rector of the Universitat Politècnica de València, José Capilla, began today in Hong Kong an institutional visit that will include trips to Macao and Guangzhou over the coming days. “This trip represents a strategic opportunity to reinforce UPV’s international projection and position our university in direct dialogue with one of the most innovative academic and technological ecosystems in Asia,” the Rector stated.

The first day of meetings took place at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), where the Rector met with Cameron Campbell, Acting Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences and Chair Professor of the Institute of Social Sciences and Big Data, Kai Hon Alexis Lau, Director and Chair Professor of the Institute for the Environment, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Melinda K. Whong, Director of the Center for Language Education and Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tim Sze, Director of the Office of Mainland Affairs, and Marsha Ma, Manager of the Office of Mainland Affairs. “HKUST is a world-renowned institution in science and technology, with which we share values, academic excellence, and a global vision. Our collaboration is a key asset to strengthen student mobility and promote joint research projects,” José Capilla added.

Both universities have maintained an active exchange agreement since 2008 —renewed this year— and an additional agreement for Erasmus+ mobility signed in 2023. To date, the collaboration has enabled the exchange of 46 UPV students and the reception of 49 students from HKUST in Valencia, making HKUST the second-highest Asian university in terms of mobility with UPV.

During the visit, the delegation will explore new lines of joint work, including the inclusion of the Faculty of Business Administration and Management (FADE) in the exchange programs with HKUST Business School, the promotion of collaborative projects in PhD and civil engineering research, and the consideration of a triangular agreement proposal between HKUST, Guangzhou University, and UPV. This possibility is especially relevant given the existence of the joint HKUST (Guangzhou) center, created by both universities in 2022 and ranked 22nd and 30th in the Shanghai Ranking for Civil Engineering.

A UPV delegation is accompanying the Rector on this institutional trip. The participation of these strategic units strengthens the academic, scientific, technological, and cultural dimension of the mission, ensuring the generation of joint projects, the attraction of talent, and the consolidation of cooperation programs in Asia.