The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Peking University
13 to 20 July 2018

PolyU, Peking University, Beijing Municipal Government and the Beijing-based Shougang Group jointly organised Global Youth Leaders Summit 2018 from 13 to 20 July – China’s first collaborative youth development initiative undertaken by universities, the government and the business sector. The summit attracted more than 300 student leaders from 28 countries/regions across the globe, who enjoyed exchange trips and field visits to Hong Kong and Beijing to learn about ways to realise their vision. Eleven students from nine USRN member universities participated in the summit, including students from the University of Manchester, the University of Pretoria, Yonsei University, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Tufts University, the University of Sao Paulo, the University of Haifa, the University of New South Wales and Sichuan University.

Themed “Transforming VISION into ACTION”, the summit was designed to nurture future leaders with the passion and commitment required to make the world a better place. It gave students opportunities to search for practical solutions to critical challenges facing the world today, such as poverty, unequal access to education and the need to build sustainable communities.

Global leaders such as Nobel Laureate and Professor Muhammad Yunus were invited to share their life journeys to inspire the students to find ways of turning their dreams into reality. As an extension of this summit for students, a USR Student Network will be officially launched during the USR Summit 2018 held in Israel in December.

“It feels like the beginning of something big. I am so excited to see how the Global Youth Leaders Summit will turn into a movement, in which I hope to participate.”

Cristina de Gama, Tufts University

“I was very impressed by the summit, which strengthened students’ awareness of the responsibility of universities to ensure sustainable development and the power of students to promote social justice.”

Gabriel Rodrigues Mardegan, University of São Paulo

“I have learned more than I could have imagined. The speakers were amazing. They spoke with so much zest, experience and passion. I am truly grateful for such a life-changing experience, which I will forever carry in my heart!”

Mellon Ncube, University of Pretoria