Self-financed higher education in Hong Kong continues to be a vital provider of quality continuing and professional education opportunities for learners, both part-time for working adults and full-time for school leavers and sub-degree holders. The availability of transnational education (TNE) programmes has significantly increased the variety of offerings and the international recognition of the qualifications awarded. In response to the evolving demand for transnational education, the Maisy Ho Centre for Teaching and Learning hosted the Third International Conference on 22 February 2025 to promote the exchange between local and international education. 

The Third International Conference on Quality in Self-financed Higher Education ‘Connecting Local and Global’ on 22 February 2025 brought together leaders from overseas and local education circles as guest speakers to share their experiences and prospects for transnational education, attracting participants both physically and virtually across several time zones to discuss the future directions of educational development. 

Opening remarks and visionary keynote speeches 

Professor Ian Holliday, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) of The University of Hong Kong and Chairman of the HKU SPACE Board of Directors, inaugurated the conference. He welcomed participants from universities, institutions, and professions worldwide, emphasising the importance of exchanging experience, building capacity, and expanding knowledge in self-financed and transnational education. 

The keynote speeches featured two distinguished speakers -- Professor Stamenka Uvalić-Trumbić, Former Head of the Higher Education Section (UNESCO) and Former Senior Adviser for International Affairs to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (USA), and Professor Grahame Bilbow, Co-Founder and Director of Grange Education. Professor Uvalić-Trumbić discussed how local developments meet global standards for quality and recognition in higher education. This was followed by the presentation of Professor Bilbow on creating the new HKU SPACE Teaching Fellowship Scheme, a local educational initiative aligned with global educational standards. 

Engaging round table discussion and parallel sessions 

A round table discussion chaired by Professor William K.M. Lee, Director of HKU SPACE, addressed the prospects for self-financed tertiary education in the Greater Bay Area. Esteemed speakers, including Ir Dr Alex Chan, Chairman of the Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education, Mr Albert Chow, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, and Professor Ronald Chung, Chairman of the Federation for Self-financing Tertiary Education, shared their insights on recent trends, regulatory frameworks, and opportunities for Hong Kong's self-financing tertiary institutions. 

In the afternoon, seven parallel sessions took place, featuring experts, officials, and educators from local and overseas universities. These sessions covered various aspects of transnational and self-financed education, including innovative teaching, quality assurance issues, and the transnational education experience in Hong Kong. 

Technological innovations in education 

The advancement of technology has extensively transformed traditional teaching and learning models. The E-Learning Team showcased four innovative projects at the Conference: a VR application for dietitian training that offers immersive clinical scenarios, a Metaverse application for learning Japanese language through interactive virtual environments, advanced online learning resources utilising Generative AI for dynamic language practice and storytelling, and a comprehensive Video Library to support teaching and staff development with a wide range of multimedia resources. 

Recognise outstanding teachers 

The Outstanding Teacher Awards 2024 were also presented by Professor William K.M. Lee at the conference. Thirteen recipients received awards, with certificates to be sent directly to those who were not present.