Media

Gathering academics across Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and Hong Kong to Shed Light on the Crucial Role of Universities in Combating the Rural Revitalisation Challenge

Rural communities of many developed and developing countries are facing pressing challenges of depopulation and environmental deterioration. Higher education institutions, as the hubs of knowledge and innovation, are increasingly expected to contribute to rural sustainable development and respond to the needs of rural communities.

The Rural Sustainability Programme – APAC Initiative for Regional Impact (AIRI) initiated by the University of Hong Kong (HKU), in collaboration with universities in the Asia Pacific Region will host the first AIRI Regional Forum ‘Bridging Knowledge and Action: the Roles of the University in Rural Revitalisation’ on June 17 (Saturday). The Programme is supported by The Hongkong Bank Foundation.

The Forum calls upon academics and renowned practitioners from Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and Hong Kong to share their experiences and insights on how universities can play a critical role in rural revitalisation by integrating knowledge and resources from different fields, promoting urban-rural partnerships, as well as incubating local talents.

Professor Ming Wen, Dean of Social Sciences, the University of Hong Kong; and Professor Stephen Tang Man Bun, Head, Countryside Conversation Office, Environment and Ecology Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government will officiate at the opening ceremony to deliver the Welcoming Speech and the Officiating Speech. It will be followed by keynote dialogue sessions on topics including ‘Rural Development and Climate Change’, ‘Urban-rural Integration in China’, and ‘Creating Future Leaders’.

Details of the Forum are as follows:
Date: June 17, 2023 (Saturday)
Time: 9:15 am to 12:15pm
Venue：Rayson Huang Theatre, HKU
9:15 am – 9:30 am (Media Registration)
9:30 am – 9:50 am (Welcoming and Officiating Speeches)

• Welcoming Speech: Professor Ming Wen, Dean of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong
• Officiating Speech: Professor Tang Man Bun, Stephen, BBS, Head, Countryside Conversation Office, Environment and Ecology Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government

Keynote Dialogues
9:50 am – 10:30 am (Keynote Dialogue 1: Rural Development and Climate Change)
10:30 am – 11:10 am (Keynote Dialogue 2: Urban-rural Integration in China)
11:10 am – 11:50 am (Keynote Dialogue 3: Creating Future Leaders)
11:50 am – 12:15 pm (Panel Discussion and Q&A section)

Language: English (with simultaneous interpretation into Mandarin and Thai on Zoom)

Note for the media
For registration, please email mimikan@hku.hk or via phone / WhatsApp at +852 6701 2172 by June 16, 2023. The event will be held physically on-site and virtually via a Zoom Webinar. A live-streaming link will be sent to the registered online participants before the event.

About APAC Initiative for Regional Impact (AIRI)
Building on the success of the Sustainable Lai Chi Wo (2013-2017) and HSBC Rural Sustainability (2017-2022) programmes which have demonstrated the viability and merits of a community-based, integrated approach to rural revitalisation as a solution to sustainability challenges, the Centre for Civil Society and Governance at HKU launched the APAC Initiative for Regional Impact (AIRI). Supported by The Hongkong Bank Foundation, AIRI aims to establish a regional consortium for knowledge co-creation and exchange. A core part of AIRI is the Urban-Rural Sustainability Fellowship 2022-23, which has trained over 90 Fellows and Associate Fellows for rural sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region. To find out more information about AIRI, please visit: https://ccsg.hku.hk/airi/

About the Centre for Civil Society and Governance, HKU
Established in December 2002, the Centre for Civil Society and Governance (the Centre) strives to enhance our knowledge of civil society and its contribution towards good governance, and to facilitate the attainment of a sustainable society through forging community-based, innovative solutions to inform policy deliberation and collective actions. The work of the Centre is organised around three Labs—the Policy for Sustainability Lab (PSL), the Social Entrepreneurship and Civic Action Lab (SECAL), and the Nonprofits and Philanthropy Lab (NPPL); each of them representing a research focus and an area of excellence of the Centre. To find out more information about the Centre, please visit: https://ccsg.hku.hk/