Hong Kong university offers unconditional admission to Harvard students
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The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology extended an open invitation to currently enrolled foreign students and those with confirmed offers from Harvard University.
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A Hong Kong university on May 23 offered unconditional admission to international students at Harvard University after US President Donald Trump’s administration decided to revoke the prestigious institution’s ability to enrol them
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology said the initiative applies to currently enrolled foreign students as well as those with confirmed offers from Harvard, saying their acceptance reinforces its commitment to “fostering a diverse, world-class learning environment”.
The move appears to reflect the policy of the semi-autonomous Chinese region to attract talent by capitalising on the confrontation between the Trump administration and US higher education institutions.
Hong Kong Education Minister Christine Choi posted on Facebook that the territory’s government has appealed to its universities to “take positive actions” in enrolling the affected students.
In announcing the foreign student enrolment ban on May 22, US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Harvard is being held accountable for “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.”
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China “opposes politicising education cooperation”.
“China-US education cooperation benefits both sides,” she said. Beijing will “firmly protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese students and scholars overseas.” KYODO NEWS
