There is a long history of higher education in Hong Kong with the founding of its first university, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), in 1911. Students enrolling in higher education courses in Hong Kong post Second World War were considered elite-type. Since the early 1990s, the age participation rate has increased to 18% for first degree courses, equalling to the expansion of approximately 50% in undergraduates. Changes have been apparent from elitist higher education to mass-type higher education. Another essential development in Hong Kong's higher education sector was the Chief Executive announcing in 2000 that age participation would be doubled to 60% within ten years. This paper aims to historically review the development of the higher education sector in Hong Kong. The problems associated with the processes involved and discussion related to the future development of this sector during this century will also be analysed.

Globalisation could be regarded as a human revolution that has been accelerated by the exponential development of information technology during the last century. It has brought about a growing concern over the exchange and internationalisation of education in various places. Hong Kong is an international city in the Asia-Pacific region and its Education Bureau (EDB) promotes the development of education internationalisation in many ways. This chapter looks at the phenomenon of internationalisation within education in Hong Kong in the following six aspects: higher education, the establishment of international schools, introduction of the International Baccalaureate, catering for the learning of non-Chinese-speaking children, the support provided to students learning English and the cultivation of an international perspective in students. It will also highlight new challenges that have been faced by the internationalisation of education in Hong Kong.
[Copyright © 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore.]