On October 27–28, the Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026 is taking place in Hong Kong, China. More than 50 university leaders from 20 countries around the world have gathered to discuss the globalization of education and sustainable development issues facing humanity. Yertai Sultan, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation at Abai University, is participating in the summit.

Organized by the Hong Kong Association for External Relations, the Global Summit is scheduled to take place over two days. The gathering, which brings together more than 50 university presidents and leaders from higher education institutions worldwide, is being held for the second time. The summit’s agenda includes the development of university campuses in the Northern Metropolis, as well as strengthening close cooperation among government agencies, businesses, scientific institutions, and the education sector.

During the opening ceremony, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee emphasized that the Northern Metropolis project is embarking on its first five-year development plan. As part of the initiative, three university campuses are planned to be established, integrating education, technology, industry, human capital, and urban development. The summit also addressed the opportunities and challenges involved in implementing similar approaches in other countries and cities around the world.

At the first session, dedicated to connecting global knowledge and fostering collaboration between universities and industry, Yertai Sultan, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation at Abai University, delivered a presentation entitled “Global Teacher Education as a Foundation for Sustainable Development: The Kazakhstani Model and International Partnership.” He highlighted the importance of global teacher education as a foundation for sustainable development and proposed the establishment of an international teacher education platform.

The summit addressed key issues related to the transformation of higher education systems, enhancing the global competitiveness of universities, and elevating cooperation among education, science, and industry to a new level. The discussions underscored the importance of deepening international academic integration and building an educational ecosystem aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

«Abai University» Media Center