ABSTRACT
One of the most frequent forms of cross-border instructional collaboration between universities has been programs in business, including the Master in Business Administration (MBA). is chapter examines how Hong Kong employs its special attribute as the most globally connected part of China to become an international hub for cross-border collaborations in higher education. In particular it examines the motives, strategies, and issues in the planning and implementation of instructional programs by two or three universities. e chapter begins with an historical background to understand the basis upon which Hong Kong has initiated international collaborations. Hong Kong’s status within China and how it made a transition from being a bridge between China and the West to being a logistical center for knowledge transfer (Postiglione 2005) is also discussed. e chapter illustrates how international collaboration in higher education is encased within the Hong Kong legal system, which provides for a high degree of institutional autonomy, the protection of academic freedom, English as a medium for higher education, bicultural and multilingual capacity, a communications infrastructure, and houses world-class universities. Finally, cross-border programs in business and public administration launched by the University of Hong Kong are introduced. e chapter recounts the design and
implementation of these programs, the challenges confronted, the experience gained, and the manner in which such cross-border programs can be successfully sustained.
