In 2025–26, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) celebrated the 60th anniversary of its pioneering partnership with the University of California through the University of California Education Abroad Programme (UCEAP). Established in 1965 as CUHK’s first-ever student exchange initiative, this landmark collaboration embodies the University’s founding mission to “bridge China and the West” and has shaped generations of global-minded graduates.

A Diamond Jubilee of Global Connection

Senior leaders, alumni, and students from CUHK and the University of California gather in Hong Kong to celebrate 60 years of academic exchange and global friendship

The Diamond Jubilee was commemorated during the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) 2026 Conference and Exhibition in Hong Kong, where alumni, students, and senior leaders from CUHK and across the UC system came together to celebrate six decades of academic exchange and enduring friendship. Since its inception, the CUHK–UC exchange has seen thousands of students participate, making it one of CUHK’s longest-running and most impactful international partnerships.

Lifelong Bonds and Cross-Cultural Discoveries

Alumni and students share fond memories and experiences of their time abroad during the anniversary reception

At the anniversary reception, alumni stories took centre stage. Conversations were filled with fond recollections, including those of lectures and dorm life on the UC campuses, friendships formed in California, and, equally, of UC students discovering Hong Kong and CUHK for the first time. The evening was a powerful reminder that exchange is not merely about mobility, but about human connections that endure long after graduation.

Celebrating Alumni Excellence

(From left) CUHK Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dennis Lo, UCEAP Global Impact and Excellence Award recipient Mr. Danny Chan (centre), and UCEAP Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director Dr. Dan Waite.

A compelling example is Mr Danny Chan, an alumnus of United College (Class of 1968), who was among the earliest CUHK students to study at the University of California. His journey from pursuing a Master’s degree at UCLA to building a distinguished international career and later contributing to heritage conservation reflects the transformative and lifelong impact of international exchange. During the event, Mr. Danny Chan was honoured with the UCEAP Global Impact and Excellence Award, underscoring the significance of the longstanding partnership between CUHK and UCEAP. This recognition celebrates not only Mr. Chan’s achievements, but also the remarkable contributions that alumni of the exchange programme continue to make across the globe.

Renewing a Shared Vision for Global Citizenship

The partnership between CUHK and UCEAP has evolved over time to meet changing education needs. From its early focus on faculty and student visits, it expanded in the 1980s to reciprocal undergraduate mobility. Today, it encompasses semester long and full year exchanges, as well as short term programmes such as the International Summer School and Summer Undergraduate Research Programme. These opportunities continue to enable CUHK students to study across UC’s world class campuses while welcoming UC students to Hong Kong for immersive academic and cultural experiences. CUHK and UCEAP reaffirmed their shared commitment by renewing the student exchange Memorandum of Understanding at the 60th Anniversary Reception.

Dr. Dan Waite (left) and Prof. Dennis Lo (right) renew the student exchange Memorandum of Understanding during the reception

As CUHK alumni, whether your involvement took the form of studying abroad in California decades ago, forging friendships with exchange students on campus, or sharing in CUHK’s international journey, the 60th anniversary of the CUHK-University of California partnership is not just an institutional milestone, but a celebration of our alumni’s collective contribution to a living legacy of global citizenship.

As CUHK continues to strengthen its international partnerships and alumni networks worldwide, the CUHK–University of California connection remains a powerful testament to how academic exchange builds bridges that last a lifetime.