GUANGZHOU, China — Hong Kong has announced its intention to welcome a greater number of international students, specifically highlighting those potentially affected by the recent move by the US government to restrict Harvard University’s enrollment of foreign nationals.
This development follows a sharp escalation in the ongoing dispute between US President Donald Trump and the prestigious university, occurring against a backdrop of simmering tensions between Washington and Beijing concerning trade and various other issues.
The Trump administration’s decision on Thursday – which was temporarily suspended by a US judge following a lawsuit filed by Harvard – has cast uncertainty over the future of thousands of international students and the significant revenue they contribute.
On Friday, Hong Kong Education Secretary Christine Choi urged universities within the Chinese city to embrace “outstanding students from all over the world”.
“For international students affected by the United States’ student admission policy, the Education Bureau (EDB) has appealed to all universities in Hong Kong to provide facilitation measures for eligible students,” Choi stated, referencing the restrictions placed on Harvard’s admission of international students.
She noted that local universities were utilizing government initiatives, including the relaxation of maximum limits on foreign student enrollment, to attract a larger international student body to Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on Friday extended an invitation to international students currently enrolled at Harvard, as well as those holding offers of admission from the elite institution, to pursue their studies at HKUST.
“HKUST is extending this opportunity to ensure talented students can pursue their educational goals without disruption,” the university said in a statement. It further added that it “will provide unconditional offers, streamlined admission procedures, and academic support to facilitate a seamless transition for interested students”.
Harvard is ranked as the top university globally in the most recent US News and World Report rankings, while HKUST is positioned at 105 out of over 2,000 ranked institutions.
President Trump has expressed his strong disapproval of Harvard’s rejection of his administration’s efforts to exert oversight on admissions and hiring, amidst his claims that the school is a center of anti-Semitism and “woke” liberal ideology.
A US judge on Friday temporarily blocked the administration’s move to prevent Harvard from admitting foreign students after the university filed a lawsuit, deeming the government’s action unlawful.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated on Thursday that the administration’s decision aimed to hold Harvard “accountable for fostering violence, anti-Semitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus”.
Beijing condemned the “politicisation of educational cooperation”, adding that Washington’s actions would “only harm the image and international standing of the United States”.
Approximately 1,300 Chinese students are enrolled at Harvard, representing about a fifth of its total international student population, according to university data.
Hundreds of thousands more attend other US colleges and universities, which have long been regarded by many in China as symbols of academic freedom and rigor.
