Open Books Hong Kong Shortlisted for THE Awards Asia 2026

We’re pleased to announce that Open Books Hong Kong has been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards Asia 2026 in the “Outstanding Contribution to Regional Development” category. This recognition highlights the initiative’s pioneering role in advancing open knowledge.

Jointly launched in July 2024 by The Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, and The University of Hong Kong, Open Books has already made over 60 titles freely available through Open Access, meaning there is no charge to access or download the books. It has reached readers across 123 countries, with 396,000 readers and over 982,000 views.

The books have been authored by academic experts in their field and subjected to rigorous editorial review. Qin Qianhong, professor at Wuhan University and co-author of Evaluating Executive-Legislative Branch Relations of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (available on Open Books, in Chinese) said “Open Books Hong Kong is highly innovative and meets the needs of the times. A holistic, integrated approach to reading helps build a foundation for knowledge, while open access makes the equal sharing of knowledge a possibility.”

Widely acclaimed as the “Oscars of Tertiary Education”, THE Awards Asia 2026 attracted more than 500 entries. Open Books Hong Kong stands out as the only cross-institutional initiative to be shortlisted. THE editor Chris Havergal remarked, “The 2026 shortlist is bursting with stories of great vision, innovation and dedication across the full range of university activities and stands as a reminder that groundbreaking ideas and the seeds of best practice can flourish in institutions of all sizes and missions.”

Recognition from THE supports the city’s status as an international education hub. Open Books has not only boosted Hong Kong’s position as a hub for knowledge exchange between the Sinophone and Anglophone worlds but has also served as a model for innovative approaches to knowledge-sharing in Chinese-language academia. The initiative will foster cross-cultural understanding, building on the strengths of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area as a bridge connecting China and the rest of the world.