The Open University is the latest tertiary institution to be searching for a new head, with its president, Professor Tam Sheung-wai, retiring next year.
Recruitment advertisements have been placed in newspapers seeking a bilingual, distinguished scholar with administrative abilities to take the university forward both in Hong Kong and on the mainland.
A university spokeswoman said foreign scholars would not be ruled out, but the emphasis would be placed on mainland exposure.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is also searching for a new head after it was left without a vice-chancellor this week with Arthur Li Kwok-cheung due to become education and manpower secretary from Monday. The Chinese University also lost the head of its sociology department and director of its institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Lau Siu-kai, who is going to head the Central Policy Unit.
The University of Hong Kong recently appointed Professor Tsui Lap-chee as its vice-chancellor after a 20-month search, while the Hong Kong Institute of Education is still searching for a head.
Professor Tam is due to retire next summer after heading the Open University for eight years.