CHERA Seminar: Internationalization and Geopolitics in Global Higher Education

Internationalization and Geopolitics in Global Higher Education

Date: November 26, 2026 (Thursday)

Time: 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm 

Venue: RMS205, Runme Shaw Building, HKU / Online via Zoom

Language: English

Registration: https://hku.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eeQuzF14dkr1t7o?Q_CHL=qr

Internationalization has long been regarded as a significant feature of contemporary higher education. Yet rising geopolitical tensions, shifting patterns of student and academic mobility, and the reconfiguration of global knowledge networks are increasingly reshaping cross-border collaboration and academic exchange. This dialogue brings together leading higher education scholars Philip Altbach, Hans de Wit, and Gerard Postiglione, moderated by Rui Yang, to explore how universities, governments, and researchers are navigating an increasingly complex global landscape. Drawing on their extensive scholarship, the speakers will reflect on how higher education institutions can sustain meaningful international engagement while responding to growing political, economic, and security challenges.

About the Speakers:

Philip G. Altbach is Monan University Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Fellow at the Center for International Higher Education, Boston College. A leading scholar of comparative and international higher education, he has authored and edited numerous influential books and received major awards for his contributions to higher education research and policy.

Hans de Wit is a distinguished scholar of higher education internationalization and a Senior Fellow of the International Association of Universities. Former Director of the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, his research focuses on global learning, international student mobility, and the future of internationalization in higher education.

Gerard A. Postiglione is Emeritus Professor and Honorary Professor at the University of Hong Kong. An internationally recognized expert on higher education in China and Asia, he has published extensively on educational development, policy, and reform, and has advised major international organizations including UNESCO, OECD, and the World Bank.

Rui Yang is Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong and a leading scholar of comparative and international higher education. His research examines higher education development in East Asia, globalization, and the relationship between culture, knowledge, and university transformation in non-Western societies.

All are welcome!

Enquiries: [javascript protected email address]