The National Security and Legal Education Research Centre (NSLERC) at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) successfully hosted the Orientation Day for the 2025/26 cohort of its Master of Laws in Digital Governance (LLM(DG)) programme on 21 August 2025. Nearly 100 new students attended the event in person, marking the commencement of their academic and professional journey in the interdisciplinary field of digital governance and law.
Professor Gu Minkang, Programme Leader of the LLM(DG) and Director of NSLERC, delivered the opening address. He warmly welcomed the new students and highlighted the programme’s pioneering significance. “As the first LLM programme at EdUHK — and possibly the first in Hong Kong — to focus on digital governance, this initiative represents a collaborative exploration rooted in our commitment to national security,” stated Professor Gu. He also emphasized the programme's philosophy of “teaching and learning promote each other,” encouraging students to engage actively in their academic pursuits.
Professor Gu provided an overview of NSLERC, which was established in January 2024 as Hong Kong’s first higher education research centre dedicated to national security and legal education. He elaborated on the mission of the LLM(DG) programme, which is to cultivate interdisciplinary experts by integrating legal studies with digital governance, artificial intelligence (AI), and national security. The programme is designed to prepare graduates for the challenges and opportunities of the rapidly evolving digital economy.
Dr. Andrew Huang Yue, Adjunct Assistant Professor at NSLERC, led sessions on academic and student-related matters. He provided practical guidance to the new cohort, detailing key academic timelines, attendance regulations, and graduation requirements to ensure a smooth start to their studies.
A key highlight of the Orientation Day was a dialogue session themed “Challenges and Growth of Legal Professionals in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” Distinguished guest speakers from the legal industry shared their insights on how AI is transforming legal practice and discussed the essential skills that legal professionals need to thrive in this new era. The interactive exchange provided students with valuable industry perspectives and an opportunity to clarify questions regarding their future career development.
The successful orientation day not only provided a comprehensive introduction to the LLM(DG) programme but also set a collaborative and forward-looking tone for the academic year ahead. The event underscored EdUHK’s commitment to pioneering education that addresses the evolving needs of society and the legal profession.