Overseas visits bring a range of academic, cultural and strategic benefits to King’s and I was delighted to have the opportunity to connect in person with our partners, donors, alumni and future students during our recent trip to Singapore, mainland China and Hong Kong. The dynamism, ambition and transformation in the region was remarkable, and it was heartening to hear first-hand about the sterling reputation King’s enjoys there. Visits such as these are vital to ensuring King’s remains competitive on the world stage.
Professor Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor & President, King’s College London
18 September 2024
King's strengthens partnerships and explores future opportunities in Asia
Led by Vice-Chancellor & President Professor Shitij Kapur, the King’s delegation visited Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong to meet partner universities, donors, alumni and future students.
Senior leaders, academics and colleagues from across King’s visited five cities in Asia to foster new collaborations and partnerships during a week-long tour of the region. The delegation brought together teams from Global Engagement, Fundraising, Alumni Relations, and Marketing to maximise opportunities for engagement, reflecting how global partnerships are at the heart of King’s vision.
The delegates connected with key institutional partners across Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, many of whom have collaborated on joint research and education initiatives, student mobility programmes and double degree awards with King’s for many years.
Among the partner universities visited were Nanyang Technological University, Peking University, Peking University Health Science Centre, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), University of Hong Kong and the University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE).
The visits not only reinforced King’s commitment to existing partnerships but facilitated discussions on their further development and opportunities for future collaboration.
King’s and Shanghai Jiao Tong University signed a Memorandum of Agreement to pave the way for high-performing students from SJTU to study MScs in Clinical Nursing and Healthcare Technologies at King's Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care and the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine.
In Shenzhen, King’s arrival marked the official launch of the SUSTech-King’s School of Medicine and the enrolment of its inaugural class. Students will study BScs in Biomedical Science and Biomedical Engineering. As population growth, urbanisation, and increasing healthcare demands shape the future of global health, the Joint Education Institute seeks to prepare for the healthcare challenges of the future by educating the next generation of medical and biomedical professionals. The partnership combines SUSTech’s innovation power and cutting-edge facilities with King’s world-class teaching and research excellence to pioneer a new model of global engagement. On successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to continue their studies on a Masters degree at King’s Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine.
The visit also offered an opportunity to engage with alumni. In Beijing and Shanghai, over 320 alumni, guests and prospective students came together to hear updates from the university, learn about our impact priorities and celebrate their enduring connection with King's. China is home to more than 17,000 former students, making up King’s largest international alumni community. They play an active role in amplifying the University’s global reach and reputation, inspiring prospective students and supporting philanthropic initiatives.
During the visit, the delegation also engaged with key partners to support student recruitment initiatives in the region. In Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, King’s met with over 80 partner agents and consultants, educational organisations, and Heads, Principals and Directors of College Counselling from key feeder schools. The meetings provided insights into the student recruitment landscape in China and Southeast Asia, highlighting opportunities for deepening engagement with partners and prospective students, and how King’s can further leverage its reputation to build a steady pipeline of future graduates from the region
Additionally, the delegation connected with future students in China. A presentation to over 100 prospective students, parents, and supporters at Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong, which included a lecture from Professor Luca Viganò on the ‘Present and Future of AI’ and an alumni panel hosted by Professor Shitij Kapur, gave attendees first-hand insights into life at King’s and its lasting impact on graduates’ careers.