Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, JP: advancing global education reform and Middle East collaboration

Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, JP, is a globally respected education leader, scholar and policy contributor whose work has significantly influenced education reform, teacher development and curriculum innovation across Hong Kong, Asia and internationally, including the UAE, Oman and the wider Middle East.

Professor Lee is President and Chair Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), where he leads the institution’s mission to develop professional, ethical and future-ready educators and graduates. Since joining EdUHK in 2010—then known as the Hong Kong Institute of Education—he has played a central role in strengthening academic quality, expanding research capacity and deepening the university’s global engagement.

He served as Vice President (Academic) from 2010 to 2019, followed by Vice President (Academic) and Provost from 2019 to 2023. In 2023, he was reappointed for a second term as UNESCO Chair in Regional Education Development and Lifelong Learning, recognising his leadership in advancing sustainable development, intercultural dialogue and lifelong learning worldwide.

Strengthening education ties with the Middle East

Professor Lee has developed strong and growing links with the Middle East, particularly the United Arab Emirates and Oman, through initiatives focused on teacher development, sustainability and research collaboration. Under his leadership, EdUHK has expanded its strategic partnership with United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), delivering joint initiatives in research, talent development and future-ready learning.

In 2024, he led two academic delegations to UAEU, culminating in the launch of the UAEU–EdUHK Joint Research Grant. The programme supports interdisciplinary research in education and social sciences and funded four joint projects in its first cycle. In 2025, EdUHK hosted the UAEU Summer Academic Development Programme, providing ten UAEU students with advanced academic training and exposure to emerging technologies. That same year, Professor Lee welcomed the UAE Consul General to Hong Kong to explore long-term academic collaboration and exchange.

In Oman, Professor Lee has been instrumental in advancing institutional collaboration and capacity building. In 2025, he oversaw a large-scale capacity-building workshop at Majan University College, attracting more than 900 participants and strengthening research and academic skills. He has also led discussions with Sultan Qaboos University to establish reciprocal student exchange programmes scheduled to begin in 2026, supporting talent mobility aligned with Oman’s national education priorities.

Professor Lee has also represented EdUHK at major global education forums, including the THE World Academic Summit, where he has engaged with UAE, Middle Eastern and international leaders on sustainability, innovation and the future of education.

Academic leadership and research excellence

Prior to joining EdUHK, Professor Lee was Dean of Education and Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). During his tenure, he also served as Director of the Centre for University and School Partnership and as a Fellow of United College and Morningside College. His commitment to teaching excellence was recognised with CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor’s Exemplary Teaching Award in 1999.

Professor Lee began his career as a secondary school teacher and later as a lecturer at the Sir Robert Black College of Education, grounding his leadership in practical classroom experience.

He holds academic qualifications from The University of Hong Kong, the University of Oxford (MSc), and CUHK, where he earned an MA in Education, a PhD, and a Diploma in Education with distinction. His research covers curriculum and instruction, environmental and geographical education, values and life education, teacher development and school improvement.

Ranked among the world’s top one per cent of most-cited scientists for career-long impact by Stanford University, Professor Lee has authored and edited more than 25 books and published over 175 journal articles and book chapters. He serves as co-editor of major international academic series published by Springer and Routledge, and has held senior editorial roles with leading journals, including Teaching and Teacher Education and the International Journal of Children’s Spirituality.

Public service and policy contribution

Beyond academia, Professor Lee is actively engaged in public service and education policy development in Hong Kong, Mainland China and internationally. He has held multiple visiting and adjunct professorships and was appointed Changjiang Scholar Chair Professor by China’s Ministry of Education. In recognition of his public service, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace by the Hong Kong SAR Government.

At the regional and global levels, he is a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a Research Fellow of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), and Director of several strategic research and policy centres at EdUHK.

Through his leadership, scholarship and expanding collaboration with the UAE, Oman and the wider Middle East, Professor John Lee Chi-Kin continues to play a leading role in shaping future-ready education systems, ethical leadership and long-term capacity building aligned with national development priorities.