Guideline

Hong Kong Scholars Program

Mainland–Hong Kong Joint Postdoctoral Fellows Program

Guidelines and Procedures (2024)

I.      Hong Kong Scholars Program

The “Hong Kong Scholars Program” is jointly launched by the Society of Hong Kong Scholars and the China National Postdoctoral Council under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. It aims at effectively pooling talent and research resources of Hong Kong and the Mainland to train outstanding postdoctoral fellows. Selected “Hong Kong Scholars” (i.e. the postdoctoral fellows) will come to Hong Kong to commence postdoctoral research work under professors at various universities in Hong Kong. This Program will help professors of Hong Kong solicit high-quality PhD graduates from leading universities on the Mainland, thus promoting academic and scientific exchanges and collaboration between the two places. 

Appointed “Hong Kong Scholars” are considered as postdoctoral fellows of the appointing units on the Mainland and be required to register at the China National Postdoctoral Council. In Hong Kong, they will be contracted postdoctoral fellows doing research work under the supervision of professors. Normally the monthly stipend for a postdoctoral fellow in Hong Kong is about RMB 30,000 (approximately equals to HK$ 36,600). The stipends of “Hong Kong Scholars” will be split between Mainland Government and Hong Kong Supervisors using their respective research funding. In other words, supervisors in Hong Kong only need to pay HK$ 18,300 monthly (equivalent to half pay of a regular appointment) to hire a high-quality postdoctoral fellow. 

The China National Postdoctoral Council will be responsible for selecting 100~120 top PhD graduates from leading universities in China each year. There will be a matching mechanism where the selected candidates can interact with the potential supervisors via email and telephone. It is anticipated that eventually, about 50~60 fellows will be chosen to come to work for a two-year contract with supervisors in Hong Kong. The areas of specialty include various disciplines in basic research, biomedical sciences, information technology, agriculture, new energies, new materials, advanced manufacturing, history, education, economics, management, literature, art, and law. All full-time faculty members at the rank of Associate Professor or above are eligible to participate in this Program to recruit postdoctoral fellows, provided that they are running ongoing research projects with adequate funding support.

 

II.    Eligibility of Hong Kong Supervisors

2.1   Eligibility

2.1.1 The person who holds a full-time faculty position at the rank of Associate Professor or above at UGC-funded universities and is willing to provide training positions in the disciplines mentioned above; 

2.1.2 Currently holding at least ONE funded research project and with sufficient research funding to support a postdoctoral fellow for two years;

2.1.3 Currently conducting high-level research projects and with experience in supervising Ph.D. students and/or postdoctoral fellows;

2.1.4 Possessing adequate research equipment and facilities; 

2.1.5 With experience in obtaining projects through international competition, and/or with track record in conducting national key projects will have priority; 

2.1.6 Supervisor who has successfully matched and accepted the “Hong Kong Scholars” in 2023’s application will not be eligible this year as he/she has to suspend the application for one year.

2.2   Application and timeframe

2.2.1 Interested supervisors are required to fill in an application form on the website of google form (https://forms.gle/RJPk4noKSXMcBpwq5) before 20th December, 2023.

2.3   Other details

2.3.1 The Academic Committee of the “Hong Kong Scholars Program” will approve the application based on the academic track record, research facilities, and funding situation of each application.

2.3.2 If necessary, the Academic Committee may verify with the institution where the supervisor works regarding the research facilities and funding.

2.3.3 All confirmed supervisors' information will be uploaded to the website of “Hong Kong Scholars Program” for interested postdoctoral candidates on the Mainland.

 

III.  Eligibility of postdoctoral fellow candidates on the Mainland

3.1  Any individual Ph.D. graduate can submit application personally. However, recommendation from his/her work place is required. All applications are selected based on merits by relevant experts in respective areas. The selection principles are as follows:

3.1.1 Age preferably below 35

3.1.2 A PhD degree (within three years of graduation), good physical health, excellent character and learning ability, has specific academic achievements and strong research potential.

3.1.3 Adequate English proficiency

3.1.4 Postdoctoral fellow positions will be offered in the following areas: various disciplines of basic research, biomedical science, information technology, agriculture, new energies, new materials, advanced manufacturing, history, education, economics, management, literature, art and law.

3.1.5 Mainland Universities belonging to project “985”, “211”, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratories, and units associated with outstanding postdoctoral research stations will be given priority.

3.1.6 Once selected, the postdoctoral fellow will be hired as a full-time staff by the Hong Kong institutions for 24 months.

3.2  Candidates will be considered and reviewed by the Assessment (or Expert) Committee formed by the China National Postdoctoral Council. The Secretariat of the “Hong Kong Scholars Program” will then receive the list of selected candidates from the Council.

3.3  After the China National Postdoctoral Council notifies the Secretariat of the “Hong Kong Scholars Program”, the selected candidates can contact the Hong Kong Supervisors via email, telephone or other appropriate means. Preliminary choices will then be made on both sides through free personal contact.

3.3.1 The Hong Kong Supervisors are suggested to make adequate communication with the selected candidates regarding the academic background, nature of the research project, research expectation of the Project, and so on.

 

IV.   Relevant Procedures

4.1  Application Procedures

4.1.1 Interested and eligible applicants (i.e. Mainland PhD graduates) may freely choose research areas/supervisors and submit applications to the postdoctoral research stations and/or Mainland institutions. 

4.1.2 Upon receiving first-round applications, postdoctoral research stations or Mainland institutions will make recommendations according to criteria stipulated by the China National Postdoctoral Council on the merit base of the applicants.

4.1.3 The Chinese Postdoctoral Council will form the Assessment (or Expert) Committee to review and short-listed around 100~120 Mainland candidates.

4.1.4 The selected candidate will contact the Hong Kong Supervisors. If an agreement is reached between the selected candidate and the supervisor, the supervisor should submit a confirmation form to the Secretariat. 

4.1.5 The Secretariat will compile the supervisors’ decisions and pass the information to the Academic Committee to assess and finalize the list of “Hong Kong Scholars”. After the endorsement of China National Postdoctoral Council, the Secretariat of the “Hong Kong Scholars Program” will notify successful Hong Kong Supervisors immediately.

4.2 Preparations for arrival at Hong Kong

4.2.1 Upon confirmation of the list, the China National Postdoctoral Council shall notify all selected “Hong Kong Scholars”.

4.2.2 The Hong Kong Supervisor will initiate employment procedures at his/her own institution using the title of contracted postdoctoral fellow or equivalent with a defined term of hire.

4.2.3 “Hong Kong Scholars” will apply for a Hong Kong entry permit with the assistance of the China National Postdoctoral Council.

4.2.4  “Hong Kong Scholars” will arrive in Hong Kong and report for duty within six months of receiving the confirmation notice; otherwise, the application will be considered forfeit.

4.3  Arrangements upon arrival at Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Supervisors will report to the Secretariat of the “Hong Kong Scholars Program” as soon as the “Hong Kong Scholars” arrive and start research work in Hong Kong.

4.4  Arrangements of changing Hong Kong Supervisor

In general, “Hong Kong Scholars” is not allowed to change institution or supervisor for the entire employment in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, under the unforeseen circumstance, he/she may apply to the Secretariat in Hong Kong (in writing) for changing institution or supervisor. The application will be examined by the Secretariat and discussed by the Academic Committee of Hong Kong Scholars Program, if necessary. If approved, the changes will be notified to the Mainland institutions through the China National Postdoctoral Council.

 

V.    Annual report and evaluation

5.1     Year-end report

“Hong Kong Scholars” (in conjunction with Hong Kong Supervisors) must submit an annual research report to the Secretariat of the “Hong Kong Scholars Program”. The content shall include research progress, latest outcomes, achievements and work to be conducted in the coming year, as well as the assessment from the supervisors and the comment from the affiliated Hong Kong institution. Besides, “Hong Kong Scholars” should also attend the “Hong Kong Scholars Annual Symposium”, which is held by the Program Organizations in Hong Kong, to present their annual attainments in oral or poster format. The “Hong Kong Scholars” may be dismissed from the Program if he/she fails to attend the annual symposium and submit an annual report approved by the supervisor.

5.2     Final research report

Upon the full completion of the research work, “Hong Kong Scholars” (in conjunction with Hong Kong Supervisors) must submit a Final Report to the Secretariat of the “Hong Kong Scholars Program” and the Mainland institution, which summarizes such information as the research output and publishing situation. The “Hong Kong Scholars” may be dismissed from the Program if his/her final report is assessed as inadequate in quality or has not been submitted.

5.3     Return Arrangements

5.3.1 Those who do not return to Mainland after completion of the Program will be penalized.

5.3.2 A security deposit shall be charged to ensure that all participants return to work for two years on the Mainland. A security deposit shall be paid to the assigning unit on the Mainland.

5.4     Ownership of project output

All papers, research projects and scientific research output of the project participants, upon publication and announcement, shall accompany the remark: “This research (output/paper) is funded by the Hong Kong Scholars Program”.

5.5     Extension arrangements

If the research project requires a longer period of stay, an application must submit to the Secretariat of the “Hong Kong Scholars Program” for approval by the China National Postdoctoral Council and the Society of Hong Kong Scholars. The stipends of the postdoctoral fellows (Hong Kong Scholars) during the extension period will be the responsibility of the Hong Kong Supervisors. 

Interested supervisors are required to fill in an application form on the website of google form (https://forms.gle/RJPk4noKSXMcBpwq5) before 20th December, 2023.

 

VI.   Enquiries

For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat of the “Hong Kong Scholars Program”. 

Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre

Address: Rm. 1404-1405, 83 King’s Road, North Point, Hong Kong.

Tel. no: 2893 7503         Email: info@hkscholars.org

Fax no: 2834 5519         Website: www.hkscholars.org / www.shks.org / www.bhkaec.org.hk

 

 

Attachment

  • Guidelines and Procedures 2024.pdf

    pdf / 130 Kb
  • 簡介及實施辦法 2024.pdf

    pdf / 259 Kb
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