HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 November 2026 – Education leaders from around the world gathered in Hong Kong for the World Class University Presidents Forum 2026 (November 4-5), further enhancing the city's prestige as a global hub for higher education and promoting academic collaboration and exchanges.
University presidents, renowned scholars and international education leaders representing more than one-third of the world's top 50 universities joined the Forum, which was held at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). They discussed key issues such as talent cultivation in the intelligent age, technology and innovation driving the future economy, and universities' response to major global challenges.
Pictured at the World Class University Presidents Forum 2026 in Hong Kong are (from left) HKUST President, Professor Nancy Ip; HKSAR's Acting Chief Executive, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Minister of Education, Mr Huai Jinpeng; HKSAR's Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; and HKUST Council Chairman, Professor Harry Shum.
"We live in an age of rapid technological change, systemic economic shifts, and unprecedented global challenges," Mr Chan said. "In this transformative landscape, universities are no longer just communities of learning and skills development. They are engines of innovation, guardians of truth, and architects of our collective future."
Mr Chan noted that higher education has always been a vital pillar of Hong Kong's success, with the city being home to five universities that are ranked among the world's top 100. Also, the latest QS World University Rankings: Asia 2027 (November 3), listed five Hong Kong universities in Asia's top 10, and three in Asia's top five, further demonstrating the strength of Hong Kong's higher education system.
Global Higher Education Forum Highlights Hong Kong’s Strategic Vision as International Talent Hub
"This is not by chance," Mr Chan said. "It is the result of sustained government investment, clear policy direction and the hard work of our universities."
Serving as a bridge between East and West, Hong Kong offers a fertile ecosystem characterised by internationalisation and diversification, which brings global talent together to address shared global challenges.
"Alongside signature international events such as the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition held in February, the World Class University Presidents Forum 2026 forms part of a strategic series of signature initiatives promoting the 'Study in Hong Kong' brand worldwide, underscoring the city's role as a key driver shaping the future of global higher education," said Dr Choi Yuk-lin, the Secretary for Education of the HKSAR.
Dr Choi stressed that Hong Kong's educational future is taking concrete physical shape through the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town.
Under the "One town, Five elements" framework, the HKSAR Government is building a holistic campus ecosystem integrating higher education, advanced research, market innovation, vibrant living spaces, and top-tier talent.
"Positioned at the gateway to the Chinese Mainland, the University Town will foster deep Industry-Academia-Research integration, linking academic research directly with industry capabilities to serve national development under the 15th Five-Year Plan," Dr Choi said.
Several heavyweight interuniversity co-operation signing ceremonies were also held during the Forum. These included a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on deepening collaboration between Central South University and Monash University; an MOU between Zhejiang University and the HKUST on the establishment of a joint innovation centre; a Trilateral Joint Seed Fund agreement among the University of Warwick, Nanyang Technological University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University; as well as a student exchange agreement between Trinity College Dublin and Nanjing University, marking a new milestone in global higher education and research collaborative innovation.
"Assembling such a distinguished constellation of global academic leadership strongly reaffirms Hong Kong's standing as an international education hub and significantly enhances the city's discourse power in the global educational arena," Dr Choi said.
Hashtag: #HongKong #BrandHongKong #Education #Talent #University
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Melco joins forces with industry leaders to deliver on the city’s Big Health vision
MACAU SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 5 November 2026 – To accelerate the high-quality development of the Big Health industry in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), the "1st Greater Bay Area Health and Longevity Summit & Awards Ceremony", proudly sponsored by Melco Resorts & Entertainment, concluded successfully today at Studio City. Jointly organized by Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group (MACAO) and iRad Hospital, the landmark event brought together international pioneers and industry leaders, drawing more than 360 guests including members of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, for high-level dialogue and exchange on the latest developments shaping the future of health and longevity.
1st Greater Bay Area Health and Longevity Summit & Awards Ceremony concludes successfully in Macao
As the Strategic Sponsor, Melco reinforced its commitment to Macao's Big Health sector. This advances the vision established with its October 2025 launch of iRad Hospital in partnership with the iRad Medical Group at Studio City—the world's first and Macao's only integrated resort hospital equipped with both MRI and CT scanning facilities.
Mr. Lawrence Ho, Chairman & CEO of Melco
Mr. Lawrence Ho, Chairman & CEO of Melco, said, "As Macao pursues its '1+4' appropriate economic diversification strategy, Melco is proud to support this inaugural wellness and longevity summit. With iRad Hospital at Studio City, we are bridging cutting-edge longevity science and world-class hospitality together under one roof – and today's exchange of ideas among leading experts from across the world is exactly how Macao will grow into a premier global hub for medical tourism and Big Health innovation. We sincerely thank our co-organizers and the distinguished speakers and experts for sharing their invaluable insights and expertise, which contributed to the success of this inaugural event."
Featuring an exceptional line-up of 25 global speakers from 10 regions, the Summit delivered a dynamic programme of keynotes and high-level discussions addressing the future of health and longevity. The three highly anticipated keynotes included:
Keynote 1: "One Gene. Cancer. Aging. One Switch" – Presented by Professor Dean Felsher of Stanford University, a leading cancer researcher specializing in oncology and pathology. He currently serves as the Founding Director of the Translational Research and Applied Medicine (TRAM) Program. His pioneering research focuses on the concept of oncogene addiction, utilizing innovative model systems to translate basic science breakthroughs into targeted therapeutics and novel cancer treatments.
Keynote 2: "Don't Die: One Man's War on Aging" – Presented by Bryan Johnson, Founder of Blueprint, and Kate Tolo, Co-Founder of Blueprint and Immortals. Together, they are pioneering the global longevity and biohacking movement by transforming rigorous health data tracking into accessible consumer protocols. Their multi-million dollar open-science experiments actively track thousands of biological markers to optimize human healthspan and redefine the limits of aging.
Keynote 3: "The Future of Longevity is Delicious" – Presented by René Redzepi and Peter Kreiner of Noma, a world-famous Copenhagen-based restaurant and food innovation lab. Together, they champion culinary exploration by unlocking the potential of hidden, wild, and treasured natural ingredients through advanced fermentation and foraging. Their work demonstrates how meticulous preparation methods and nutrient-rich, unadulterated ingredients can harmoniously elevate both exceptional flavor and long-term human wellness and longevity.
A series of high-level fireside chats further explored cutting-edge developments across wellness and longevity, science, technology and healthcare, with sessions including "Wellness & Longevity: From Vitality to Science", "The Convergence of Quantum Computing and Biochemistry in Drug Development", "Imaging, Omics & AI", "Data Trust: Privacy and the Future of Health Data" and "Heritage & Innovation: New Pathways for High-Quality TCM Development in the GBA".
Mr. Dennis Tam, Honorary Chairman of iRad Hospital and President and CEO of Black Spade Capital
Mr. Dennis Tam, Honorary Chairman of iRad Hospital and President and CEO of Black Spade Capital, said, "Longevity doesn't begin in a laboratory. It begins with people. At iRad, we are building the Longevity+ brand around exactly that idea — bringing world-class science and genuine human connection under one roof. This first Greater Bay Area Health and Longevity Summit in Macau was proof it works: 360 business leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs, 25 speakers from 10 regions, and conversations that went far beyond any single keynote — all in just four hours. We are proud to keep building it across the Greater Bay Area and beyond, to the world."
The event was marked by an opening ceremony officiated by distinguished guests including representatives of the event's Supporting Units: Mr. Lo Iek Long, Director of the Health Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Mr. Choi Peng Cheong, Director of the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Mr. Larry Leong, Acting President of the Board of Directors of the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute of the Macao SAR Government; and Mr. U U Sang, Deputy Director of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; other government officials: Mr. Yang Quanzhou, Deputy Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Mr. Cheong Chok Man, Director of the Policy Study and Regional Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Mr. Lio Chi Chong, Acting Director of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; and Mr. Cheng Wai Tong, Acting Director of Macao Government Tourism Office; Mr. Lawrence Ho, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Melco, the event's Strategic Sponsor; and representatives of the co-organizers: Mr. Zheng Yong Nan, Vice Chairman and General Manager of Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group; Mr. Dennis Tam, Honorary Chairman of iRad Hospital and President and CEO of Black Spade Capital; Dr. Matthew Ngan, Founder and Chairman of iRad Hospital; and Mr. Kin Wong, CEO of iRad Hospital.
The event culminated in a networking dinner and awards ceremony, honoring 17 outstanding organizations and individuals in the GBA for their contributions to the Big Health industry, medical innovation and the integration of healthcare and tourism.
Hashtag: #Melco #iRad #TaKungWenWei #longevity #GreaterBayArea
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About Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited
The Company, with its American depositary shares listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq: MLCO), is a developer, owner and operator of integrated resort facilities in Asia and Europe. The Company currently operates City of Dreams (www.cityofdreamsmacau.com) and Altira Macau (www.altiramacau.com), integrated resorts located in Cotai and Taipa, Macau, respectively. Its business also includes the Mocha Clubs (www.mochaclubs.com), the only non-casino based operation of electronic gaming machines in Macau. In addition, the Company operates Studio City (www.studiocity-macau.com), a cinematically-themed integrated resort in Cotai, Macau. In the Philippines, the Company operates and manages City of Dreams Manila (www.cityofdreamsmanila.com), an integrated resort in the Entertainment City complex in Manila. In Europe, the Company operates City of Dreams Mediterranean, an integrated resort in Limassol, in the Republic of Cyprus (www.cityofdreamsmed.com.cy) and licensed satellite casinos in other cities in Cyprus (the "Cyprus Casinos"). In South Asia, the Company operates the casino and manages the Nüwa hotel at City of Dreams Sri Lanka (www.cityofdreamssrilanka.com), an integrated resort in Colombo, Sri Lanka. For more information about the Company, please visitwww.melco-resorts.com.
The Company is majority owned by Melco International Development Limited, a company listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, which is in turn majority owned and led by Mr. Lawrence Ho, who is the Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
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