University of Hong Kong chief Zhang Xiang to step down in 2028 to focus on research

The University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) President and Vice-Chancellor Zhang Xiang has said he will step down in 2028 and return to the laboratory to focus on research.

University of Hong Kong president and vice-chancellor Zhang Xiang. Photo: University of Hong Kong.

The 62-year-old Chinese-American mechanical engineer said in a letter to the university community that he had informed the governing HKU Council of his decision, so a successor could be found.

Zhang said it was an honour to lead HKU, citing the transformative impact of AI and the challenges of a complex global environment for his decision.

“[I] have reflected deeply on what we have achieved and where this great university is heading. We live in a complicated, rapidly changing world, marked by polarized views and conflicts. At the same time, the AI tsunami is transforming human life in ways not seen for hundreds of years,” he said in the letter.

“I have realized that it is time for HKU to embrace fresh ideas and for a new leader to guide this great transformation. At the same time, I remain a scientist and a professor at heart. I yearn to return to my laboratory, to answer profound scientific questions, and to make a societal impact.”

Zhang Xiang’s letter in full – click to view

Dear colleagues, students, alumni and friends of the University,

I hope you have all enjoyed a restful summer. I am writing to you today regarding an important matter concerning university leadership and my own future.

As I enter the ninth year of my tenure as your President and Vice-Chancellor, I have reflected deeply on what we have achieved and where this great university is heading. We live in a complicated, rapidly changing world, marked by polarized views and conflicts. At the same time, the AI tsunami is transforming human life in ways not seen for hundreds of years. How do we redefine education to ride these rapid societal changes? What is the new paradigm for a university where humans and machines coexist and collaborate? And how do we transform our legacy teaching systems to address these grand challenges?

I have realized that it is time for HKU to embrace fresh ideas and for a new leader to guide this great transformation. At the same time, I remain a scientist and a professor at heart. I yearn to return to my laboratory, to answer profound scientific questions, and to make a societal impact. Therefore, I am announcing my decision to retire from the Presidency and Vice-Chancellorship after I complete my ten-year tenure in 2028. I am sharing this decision with you now to give the University ample time to search for its next leader. I have also informed the Council Chairman of my decision.

Over the past eight years, it has been the defining honor of my life to work with you to elevate HKU’s academic standing. Together, we have achieved a staggering amount. We have risen to 11th globally and 1st in Asia in the QS rankings. The brilliance of our faculty shines brighter than ever, with Clarivate’s highly cited researchers more than tripling to 54. We have welcomed over 100 top-tier scholars worldwide, including Nobel laureates and Fields Medalist. Nearly 86% of our disciplines have improved significantly, with 15 in the global top 20.

In the next two years, I hope to continue this path with you. We will pursue our transformative reform agenda, ensuring our structures serve our greatest asset—our people. We will also match intellectual growth with an expanded physical footprint: the soon-to-complete Tech Landmark, Pokfield Campus, and visionary Global Innovation Centre, alongside our growing presence in Shanghai and planned campus in Europe.

Becoming a world-leading university is within our grasp. We must fulfil our founding mission as China’s international university: a nexus of East–West knowledge that advances the nation’s leadership in science and human development. Change is never easy, and I thank you for your steadfast support. The academic standards we have set and the outstanding scholars we have welcomed form a durable foundation for HKU to innovate and thrive in the future.

Lastly, I would like to thank all of you, all our stakeholders, HKU Council, HKSAR Government and the Central Government for supporting HKU and myself in our mission. With your continued support, let us work together to make HKU truly world-leading.

Thank you.

Professor Xiang Zhang, JP
President and Vice-Chancellor
The University of Hong Kong

He said he would continue to push for research and campus development during the final two years of his ten-year term. He will focus on the Tech Landmark, the Pokfield Road campus, the Global Innovation Centre, and campus projects in Shanghai and Europe.

Chequered tenure

During Zhang’s tenure, the city’s leading university rose to 11th globally in the QS World University Rankings and first in Asia.

The institute also set a new record last year with 54 academics named in Clarivate’s “Highly Cited Researchers 2025” list.

The University of Hong Kong. File photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP.

However, HKU has also faced scandals over the use of AI by academics and students, as well as criticism over censorship after a campus memorial to the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown dead was replaced with seating.

In 2024, he was cleared of misconduct after a 6-month internal investigation in which he was accused of mishandling funds and hiring a headhunter without following procurement procedures.

In 2020, he joined other university heads in publicly backing the national security law.