Shirley Chong
SC
Shirley Chong
Director Communications and Institutional Research Office
City University of Hong Kong
Ms. Shirley Chong serves as the Director of Communications and Institutional Research (DCIRO) at City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK opens in new tab/window). In this role, she fosters synergy and drives the university's rankings and branding initiatives both locally and internationally.
Ms. Chong holds a Master of Science in Marketing Management and a Bachelor's degree in Communications. With extensive expertise in rankings strategy, local and international marketing, and promoting internationalization, she plays a crucial role in enhancing the university's reputation on a global scale.
In her pivotal position, Ms. Chong leads initiatives aimed at elevating CityUHK’s global rankings, guiding the university toward its goals of being among the top 100 universities worldwide, the top 20 in Asia, and the top five among young universities with less than 50 years of history.
Her diverse background in public relations and marketing spans various sectors—including public utilities, charities, public organizations, consultancy, and higher education—enabling her to significantly contribute to the university's mission of promoting research excellence and building a robust academic reputation. Notably, her successful international marketing strategies led CityUHK to be recognized as the Most International University in the World by Times Higher Education in 2024.
In addition to her branding initiatives, Ms. Chong steers international partnerships, including the pioneer Future Global Leadership Programme with Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge, as well as sustainability partnership projects with several other universities in the United Kingdom.
Ms. Chong is an active member of the higher education community, providing professional advice on public relations and marketing at international conferences. She has cultivated strong relationships with major ranking bodies, facilitating effective performance evaluation processes for the university. Recently, she served as a trainer for the Times Higher Education W100 Reputation Network, a prestigious network for the top 200 universities worldwide.