To actively follow the development and collaboration trend as well as to further cohere and facilitate partnership between the higher education institutions of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao for the integration of quality academic resources, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau University Alliance is founded under the initiation of Sun Yat-sen University and with the collaboration of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Macau. A founding ceremony was held at Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou China on 15 November, 2016. Kiang Wu Nursing College of Macau (KWNC) is invited to join the Alliance. College representatives including President Van Iat Kio, Vice-President Xing Zhihong and Deputy Executive Officer of President's Office Cheong Hoi Ieng were present at the founding ceremony.
 
Ten institutions from Guangdong, nine from Hong Kong and seven from Macao join the Alliance this year, making a total of 26 institutions in the league. The aim of the Alliance is to cohere all elite universities in the three regions to nurture talents with high quality and to encourage the development of knowledge-based economy. It is also hoped that through the promotion of student exchange, research collaboration and collaborative innovation, the level and standard of regional collaboration can be enhanced, and that a more efficient and consolidated network can be formed.