Discover HKBU

Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University celebrates 20-year milestone

28 Nov 2025

BNBU-20th-7 BNBU-20th-7
To celebrate the important milestone of its 20th anniversary, BNBU organised a series of exciting events on 18 November.

 

Faculty, students, alumni, collaborative partners, and friends from all sectors gathered on 18 November to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU) in Zhuhai.

The day’s celebration included the 20th Anniversary Development Conference, a roundtable forum and lecture series, the secondary school principals’ symposium, the Jao Tsung-I Poetry Competition Award Ceremony, the Deans Forum for Media and Communication Education, the tree-planting ceremony, the Gala Dinner, and lighting displays at urban landmarks.

Jointly established by HKBU and Beijing Normal University (BNU) in 2005, BNBU is the first university co-founded by the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as the first liberal arts university in the Chinese Mainland. Leveraging the “One University, Two Campuses” model, HKBU and BNBU have made significant contributions to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the nation.

{{currentSlide}} / 3
Professor Chen Zhi, President of BNBU, shares the University’s achievements at its 20th Anniversary Development Conference.
Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU, delivers a speech.
Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, delivers a speech.

Reflecting on two decades of success of BNBU

The 20th Anniversary Development Conference was attended by Mr Chen Dali, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education; Mr Xu Shimin, Deputy Director General of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province; Mr Li Diyun, Inspector of the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province; Mr Lin Rituan, Deputy Secretary-General of the Zhuhai Municipal Government; Mr Li Jinjun, Director of the Exchange and Cooperation Division, Department of Education of Guangdong Province; Dr Wang Shoujun, Chairman of the BNBU Council and Executive Vice President of BNU; Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU; Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU; Professor Ng Ching-fai, Founding President of BNBU; and Professor Tang Tao, the second President of BNBU. 

At the Conference, Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU, remarked that BNBU has consistently demonstrated the value of liberal arts education through its actions over the past 20 years. As the parent institution, HKBU has continuously provided strong and sustained impetus for BNBU’s growth and, together with BNU, will continue to offer BNBU steadfast and reliable support in the future.

Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, stated that HKBU will continue its close collaboration with BNBU to deepen their joint efforts in research innovation and talent development. Together, the two universities will focus on emerging fields to promote the translation of research outcomes. Furthermore, HKBU remains committed to upholding the spirit of the humanities and its core mission of character development, nurturing young people with a strong sense of responsibility and dedication to their communities and country.

Professor Chen Zhi, President of BNBU, said that significant breakthroughs have been achieved in securing funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Education Foundation on Humanities and Social Sciences. BNBU has deepened its collaborations in education and innovation by launching the “1+1+1” Joint Funding Programme for higher education institutions in Guangdong and Hong Kong, in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology of Guangdong Province and HKBU. In addition, BNBU has established partnerships with nearly 100 renowned overseas universities.

{{currentSlide}} / 3
(From left) Professor Joachim Frank, recipient of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry; Dr Leslie Lamport, winner of the 2013 Turing Award; Professor Dan Shechtman, recipient of the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry; Professor Eric Westhof, member of the French Academy of Sciences and the German Academy of Sciences; and Professor Efim Zelmanov, recipient of the 1994 Fields Medal, participate in the roundtable forum hosted by BNBU.
The Deans Forum for Media and Communication Education brings together experts and scholars from nearly 30 universities in China and abroad.
In a gesture symbolising the friendship between the universities, "Faith and Perseverance Osmanthus" and "Virtue and Exemplary Osmanthus," gifted by HKBU and BNU, are planted along the central axis of BNBU’s Phase II campus.

 A diverse array of scholarly events and celebrations

On the same day, a roundtable forum was held, bringing together numerous top international scholars to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing science in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). In-depth exchange was conducted with more than 20 media outlets on topics such as future scientific collaboration and the development of university education.

The Deans Forum for Media and Communication Education was held concurrently, featuring experts and scholars from nearly 30 universities in China and abroad. The forum explored the paradigm innovation and the future paths of journalism and communication education under the wave of Artificial Intelligence Generated Content.

Earlier this year, BNBU organised the Jao Tsung-I Poetry Competition to celebrate the scholarly spirit of Professor Jao Tsung-I, and preserve and promote traditional Chinese culture globally. The competition’s award ceremony was held on 18 November together with the 7th secondary school principals’ forum.

A new three-volume book series documenting the 20 years of BNBU’s development was also launched, capturing cherished stories, milestones, and the collective memories of its community.