HKIE Opens 1st Mainland Office at HKUST(GZ) to Boost Engineering Collaboration

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) inaugurated its first mainland office at HKUST(GZ) on July 15. This marks a significant step forward in terms of deepening engineering talent integration across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The new office, managed by HKUST(GZ)'s Center for Engineering Excellence, will focus on membership development, training accreditation and business expansion for HKIE across the Chinese mainland.

The latest move follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed last September between HKIE and HKUST(GZ). After nearly 10 months of preparation, the office is now fully operational on the HKUST(GZ) campus.

The inauguration ceremony was addressed by Ir Professor Frank CHAN Fan, President of HKIE; Professor Lionel M. NI, President of HKUST(GZ); Mr. Gary POON, Deputy Secretary (Works) for Development of the HKSAR Government; Ms. Pamela LAM, Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau of the HKSAR Government; and Dr. Pengpeng FU, First-level Research Officer of the Social Development Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR.

The ceremony was also witnessed by representatives from various organizations, including Ms. Youying ZHOU, Vice Chairperson of the Guangdong Provincial Association for Science and Technology and Deputy Chairperson of the GBA Federation of Engineering Organisations (GFEO); Mr. Gan LI, Deputy Director of the Professional and Technical Personnel Management Division of the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province; and Ms. Jing CHEN, Director of the Office of the Beijing Institution of Engineers.

Ir Professor Frank CHAN Fan, President of HKIE, said the partnership will help engineers from the Chinese mainland obtain international qualifications, enhancing their global competitiveness. The office will tap into HKUST(GZ)'s academic resources and innovation strengths to promote two-way exchanges of engineering talent, he added.

Professor Lionel NI, President of HKUST(GZ), reaffirmed the University's commitment to nurturing innovative talent to address national development strategies. The new office will connect students with international engineering activities and standardized training, he said, adding the University will fully support the office's work and provide a broader international platform for the professional development of engineers on both sides.

Following the ceremony, the event featured a public lecture, interactive workshop sessions, and a CPD (Continuing Professional Development) seminar. These activities drew about 200 participants from academia, industry, and professional bodies.

Through HKIE's globally recognized accreditation framework, the office will create a clear pathway for engineers from the Chinese mainland to obtain international qualifications. This will strengthen their competitiveness on the global stage.

HKUST(GZ) will meanwhile encourage students to engage in HKIE-accredited training, with the goal of enabling graduates to join the Institution as young members upon completion of their studies. They will then be ready to participate in international engineering projects.

The inauguration reflects a strategic alignment of resources between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, positioning HKUST(GZ) as a vital hub for education and talent exchange in the Greater Bay Area.

The office will drive professional exchanges, help harmonize engineering standards, and explore ways to facilitate the interoperability of domestic and international practices. All of these efforts will support the long-term growth of the sector on both sides.

Also in attendance at the event were Ir Rupert LEUNG Kwok Yiu, Senior Vice President at HKIE; Ir CHIANG Tung Keung, Vice President at HKIE; Ir Prof Alfred SIT Wing Hang, Chief Executive and Secretary at HKIE; Professor Quanke SU, Chief Engineer at HKUST(GZ); Mr. Zide DU, Advisor to the President at HKUST(GZ); Ms. Fang YANG, Director of Cooperation and Exchange of the Guangdong Provincial Association for Science and Technology; along with representatives from GBA municipal science associations, engineering societies and industry enterprises.