2nd GBA Field Trip: Gaining Insights into Talent Needs and Advancing Lifelong Learning and Continuing Education

From 13 to 15 May 2026, Professor William K.M. Lee, Director of HKU SPACE, led a delegation of the School’s senior management, key unit members, alumni and distinguished guests on a three-day-two-night field trip to the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The trip deepened exchange and focused on the latest trends in regional industrial development and evolving talent demands, while actively exploring the School’s role and future direction in promoting lifelong learning and continuing education.

During the trip, the delegation visited several industry-leading enterprises in Guangzhou. These included the global headquarters and intelligent manufacturing base of XPeng Motors, a leader in the new energy vehicle sector, where participants gained in-depth insights into advancements in intelligent driving, digital production, and research and development innovation. The group also visited benchmark fashion retail companies MINISO Group and Vipshop to understand innovations in new retail models, particularly in brand IP operations, supply chain management, and data application. At KingMed Diagnostics, located on Guangzhou International Bio Island, the delegation learned how large-scale samples and big data are leveraged to advance precision medicine. The participants also visited the GBA Innovation Center of High-performance Medical Device to study how its open platform and industrial incubation system support the commercialisation and incubation of medical technology enterprises. In addition, the delegation toured the Exhibition Hall of Midea Cloud of Midea Group to learn about Midea’s development in healthcare, home appliances, and heavy industry, followed by a meeting on its practices in industrial internet, smart manufacturing, and enterprise digital transformation solutions.

The field trip successfully fostered stronger exchanges and connections between academic institutions and enterprises in the GBA. Participants gained a deeper understanding of      emerging trends in key sectors such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, medical technology, and the digital economy, highlighting the urgent corporate demand for high-quality, interdisciplinary, and versatile talent. These site visits laid a solid foundation for future collaboration in talent cultivation, joint curriculum development, and student internship opportunities. By building a closer industry-academia network, the School will further strengthen its role as a bridge, promoting integration between industry and education to support high-quality regional development.

Moving forward, the School will continue to deepen its engagement with the GBA and actively integrate into national development strategies. With a focus on promoting lifelong learning and continuing education, it aims to cultivate talents equipped with global vision and innovative capabilities, making greater contributions to societal and industrial development.