Thanks to the favourable global rankings of its universities and its unique linkage with mainland China and the world, Hong Kong is well positioned to upgrade itself into an international education and talent hub. Under the incumbent administration’s drive, more ambitious measures are being rolled out to burnish the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, and rightly so.The inaugural Global Education Summit held in the city over the weekend provided clarity on the way forward. Co-organised by the South China Morning Post and HSBC Premier, the two-day event drew more than 5,000 policymakers, educators and parents from around the world to discuss regional talent development, artificial intelligence integration and evolving academic pathways. Among the attendees were principals and admissions officers from more than 40 leading secondary schools and universities, including the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.Addressing the summit, Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin posed a thought-provoking question. “We don’t just care about rankings on a piece of paper. In an age dominated by artificial intelligence, fast-changing global markets and evolving career landscape … are we truly preparing our next generation to thrive?” she asked.The answer is in the affirmative. It is encouraging that the government has clear targets on further boosting education quality. With the concrete goal of lifting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) enrolments to 35 per cent of undergraduates by 2026-27, and a broader range of study programmes, Hong Kong is no longer just nurturing local talent or preparing students to study overseas. It is doubling down on a decisive shift towards building a two-way global education highway.There have been long-standing concerns about skill mismatches, especially when the local economy pivots towards innovation, technology and re-industrialisation. The education minister’s pledge to pair programme growth with efforts to better connect education, research and industry is reassuring. In the 2025-28 triennium, universities are launching 27 undergraduate programmes related to STEAM, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, creative industries, sustainable development and data science.The expansion of the Northern Metropolis university town project, from the original 60 hectares to some 300 hectares, along with the surrounding technology paths, industry zones and vibrant communities that span more than 1,000 hectares in the New Territories, underlines the recognition of the links between academic research and real-world applications.