Topic: Doctoral Mobility, Geopolitics and Global Higher Education: Hong Kong's Experience from Camparative Perspectives

Speaker: Professor Ka Ho Mok

Time: Friday, April 10, 2026, 14:00

Venue: Smart Classroom 302, Building 7, Xueyuan Road Campus

Registration: Free admission. No reservation required.

Abstract:

International student mobility has become a defining feature of the globalization of higher education. However, doctoral mobility remains relatively understudied. Against the backdrop of increasingly complex geopolitical dynamics, international doctoral mobility is emerging as a critical area of research, as geopolitical factors increasingly shape students' decisions when choosing study destinations.

This study investigates the key factors influencing doctoral students' choices of specific study destinations and their post-graduation intentions to remain in host countries. Based on qualitative interviews with approximately 50 doctoral students across Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom, the research reveals how academic environments, economic conditions, social factors, and institutional structures shape mobility choices across different higher education systems.

The findings indicate that institutional reputation, quality of supervision, and research environment remain core drivers of doctoral students' destination choices, while financial support and living costs significantly affect the feasibility of international study. Beyond traditional considerations, immigration policies, career development opportunities, and quality of life conditions substantially influence students' intentions to remain in host countries after graduation.

The study further demonstrates that global disruptive events—particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions—have profoundly shaped students' perceptions of potential study destinations. By comparing traditional educational destinations with emerging education hubs, the research reveals an increasingly multipolar landscape in global higher education and intensifying competition for international doctoral talent. These findings not only advance scholarly discussions on international student mobility mechanisms but also offer policy-relevant insights for government agencies and universities seeking to enhance their competitiveness in global education networks.

About the Speaker:

Professor Ka Ho Mok is Vice President (Academic and Research) and Provost of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, where he also serves as Chair Professor of Comparative Policy. He is Associate Director of the Centre for Global Higher Education at the University of Oxford. Previously, he held senior leadership positions at The Education University of Hong Kong, including Vice-President, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Co-Director of the Centre for Governance and Citizenship. His research focuses on comparative education, comparative development and policy in East Asia, and social development in East Asian societies. Through his longstanding interdisciplinary research, Professor Mok has paid particular attention to frontier issues in international education reform and development, especially education policy in Asia, and has played a key role in encouraging Western education scholars to engage with research on Chinese education.

Editor: Lyu Xingyun