HKU SPACE out to help entrepreneurs in Bay Area

With the much-hyped Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area set to lure talents and create a vast pool of business opportunities, the HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE) is offering programs focusing on Greater China for the region’s emerging entrepreneurs.

Professor Ning R. Liu, principal of the HKU SPACE Executive Academy, gave his views on the development of the Bay Area and the role of academics in the region at the China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable forum themed “Blockchain: Shaping the Future of Business" held at HKU SPACE Admiralty Learning Centre on Tuesday.

He sees great prospects in the Bay Area as it links up the advantages each region can offer and maximize them, stressing the role Hong Kong can play in the Bay Area, as well as the nation-led Belt & Road Initiative.

“In blockchain technology, issues of trust and ethics are the important points. It’s the same in regional development, where Hong Kong can highlight its advantages as a regional financial hub,” said Liu.

He believes that, in the fast-changing economies, it’s vital for educational institutes to provide young learners with updated knowledge.

Currently, the Institute for China Business at HKU SPACE runs four categories of programs relating to human resources, innovation, finance and marketing management.

“Besides imparting knowledge, it’s important for us to broaden learners’ horizons,” Liu said. “We have coaches from enterprises to give lessons based on their practical experience working in Asia,” Liu said.

It was the third time China Daily Asia Leadership Roundtable and HKU SPACE has cooperated in co-organizing the forum that focused on trending business topics.

“In future, there’ll be more such events as both of us would like to go into issues concerning economics, business and social development,” Liu added.

Established in 2016, the Institute for China Business at HKU SPACE provides professional and executive educational programs for professionals on the Chinese mainland. At present, it has are five centers -- in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen – offering such programs.