HKUST and Nazarbayev University to Launch Asia’s First Joint Degree in Eurasian Business New Partnership Strengthens HKUST’s Commitment to the Belt and Road Initiative and “Study in Hong Kong” Campaign

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology today announced its School of Business and Management (HKUST Business School) and Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business (NUGSB) in Kazakhstan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to offer a joint Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program in Eurasian business. This pioneering partnership program, the first of its kind in Asia, was officially launched at the 10th Belt and Road Summit, highlighting a shared commitment to advancing higher education cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The new program aligns with the Hong Kong Government’s BRI and “Study in Hong Kong” initiatives. HKUST has enhanced its recruitment efforts in Belt and Road countries by offering scholarships and bursaries to top students from those regions, while organizing exchange programs, internships and placements for students from ASEAN countries. Over the past five years, applications to HKUST from major Belt and Road countries have nearly doubled, increasing from 674 in 2021 to a projected 1,639 in 2025, with significant growth from places such as Kazakhstan, Pakistan and Myanmar.

Slated to launch in 2026, the joint BBA program will be HKUST’s first joint university undergraduate program focused on emerging markets within the BRI region. The MoU also outlines plans for executive education programs to foster business innovation in Central Asia and includes a study trip to Hong Kong and Mainland China to provide NUGSB’s Executive Master of Business Administration students with immersive exposure to Asia’s dynamic business landscape. The MoU builds upon a partnership established last year, which has already facilitated student exchanges between the two schools.

The signing ceremony was attended by Commissioner for Belt and Road of the HKSAR Government, Mr. Nicholas HO Lik-Chi; HKUST Vice-President for Administration and Business Prof. TAM Kar-Yan; Acting Provost of NU, Dr. Loretta O’DONNELL; Acting Dean of HKUST Business School, Prof. HUI Kai-Lung, Chief Operating Officer of NU Mr. Maksat MAMASHEV, and Dean of NUGSB Prof. Joep KONINGS.

“Higher education collaboration is pivotal in furthering BRI’s objectives by nurturing globally oriented talent, promoting international mobility and deepening cross-cultural exchange,” said HKUST Vice-President for Administration and Business, Prof. TAM Kar-Yan, “This MoU marks a significant step in expanding our academic footprint across the rapidly growing BRI region. We believe this partnership will not only help solidify Hong Kong’s position as a global talent hub but also catalyze the talent flow between Hong Kong and Central Asia, driving shared growth, innovation and cross-cultural understanding.”

NU’s Acting Provost Dr. Loretta O'DONNELL remarked, “Chinese President XI Jinping first introduced the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative during his 2013 speech at NU, making the start of a transformative vision for regional connectivity. Today’s partnership with HKUST advances that vision by developing future business leaders with both global perspective and regional insight. By linking Hong Kong and Central Asia, we are opening new avenues for talent development, innovation and inclusive prosperity across the Belt and Road landscape. This collaboration is a forward-looking step in redefining cross-borders business education – leveraging academic excellence and cultural diversity to prepare students for leadership in a rapidly transforming global economy.”