Guangdong Province has demonstrated remarkable progress in educational internationalization throughout the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), according to official statements from the provincial education authority. At a recent press briefing in Guangzhou, Lin Rupeng, Director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education, outlined the comprehensive achievements in cross-border educational cooperation and institutional development.
The Greater Bay Area educational integration has seen substantial advancements, with strengthened collaborative frameworks between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. The province has established 48 Chinese-foreign cooperative education programs at undergraduate and higher levels, creating robust academic partnerships with international institutions.
In a significant development, three Macao-based higher education institutions, including the University of Macao, have received official approval from China’s Ministry of Education to extend their operational presence within the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. This expansion represents a major step in regional educational integration.
Sun Yat-sen University achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first mainland Chinese university to establish a formal presence in Hong Kong with the Institute of Advanced Studies Hong Kong, launched in 2024. This pioneering initiative enhances scientific research collaboration and academic exchange between mainland and Hong Kong institutions.
Vocational education has similarly embraced internationalization through the establishment of 22 Lingnan Artisan Polytechnic projects. Additionally, 35 vocational colleges have initiated 93 educational programs in Belt and Road Initiative partner countries, extending Guangdong’s educational influence globally.
The province has actively promoted its ‘Study in China · Learn in Guangdong’ initiative, with 105 universities now authorized to enroll international students. Current figures indicate over 20,000 international students pursuing education across Guangdong’s academic institutions.
Educational services for students from Hong Kong and Macao have expanded with the establishment of 12 additional specialized schools. Approximately 110,000 students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan currently attend kindergarten through secondary education throughout the province. Furthermore, 76 Guangdong universities now hold qualifications to enroll students from these regions, with about 22,000 currently pursuing higher education in the province.