On 17 November 2025, STS at HSUHK co-hosted the International PhD Seminar titled “Student Experience and Value Orientations in Contemporary Higher Education” in collaboration with HSE University. This seminar series is designed to promote innovative research and encourage cross-cultural dialogue among PhD candidates in the education sector.

During the seminar, two PhD students presented their research on related topics. Following their presentations, invited experts provided valuable feedback to support the further development of their dissertation work.

Ms Chen Zixue from the collaborative Doctor of Policy Studies (Education Policy and Management) programme between The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong and Lingnan University was a featured speaker, presented her research titled “Instrumental Rationality and Self-Quantification: A Study of the Value Orientations of Students at Hong Kong Universities in the Context of the Marketization of Higher Education”. Ms Tatiana Akuneeva from HSE University also presented her work, titled “Caring university: understanding student experience”.

We were honored to have 2 distinguished experts to join the seminar and they are Ms Anna Smolentseva from University of Cambridge and Ms Daria Platonova from Constructor University.

The research shared by Ms Chen Zixue and Ms Tatiana Akuneeva introduced key perspectives on student experiences and facilitated discussion, while feedback from experts Ms Anna Smolentseva and Ms Daria Platonova offered important suggestions for further research.

We anticipate future seminars that will further connect diverse educational philosophies and advance higher education globally.