The University of Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
The University of Hong Kong (or HKU) is the oldest tertiary institution in Hong Kong
. Its motto is "Sapientia et Virtus" in Latin
, meaning "wisdom and virtue", and "" in Chinese. The medium of instruction
in most classes is English..
According to the QS World University Rankings
2011/12, it was ranked 22nd in the world
and the best in both Asia
and Hong Kong
., although the QS Asia
n University Rankings department which releases an independent ranking each year placed it at 2nd in both Asia
and Hong Kong
(after The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology). In another rankings, the 2011–2012 Times Higher Education World University Rankings
cooperating with Thomson Reuters
as the new data supplier since 2010, the HKU was ranked 34th in the world
, 2nd in Asia
and the best in Hong Kong
. Yet, these are just the overall results and rankings of different subjects are likely to be different.
The University of Hong Kong traces its origins to the former Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese
, founded by the London Missionary Society
in 1887 and would later become the Medical Faculty of the University of Hong Kong. The college is noted for being China's Father of the Nation
Sun Yat-sen
's alma mater
.
The university was founded in 1911 when Governor
Sir Frederick Lugard proposed to establish a university in Hong Kong to compete with the other Great Powers opening universities in China, most notably Prussia
, which had just opened Tongji University
in Shanghai. The colonial Hong Kongers shared British values and allowed Britain to expand its influence in southern China and consolidate its rule in Hong Kong.
Parsi
businessman Sir Hormusjee Naorojee Mody learned of Lugard's plan and pledged to donate HK$150,000 towards the construction and HK$30,000 towards other costs. The Hong Kong Government and the business sector in southern China, which were both equally eager to learn "secrets of the West's success" (referring to technological advances made since the Industrial Revolution
), also gave their support. The Swire Group
also contributed funds, wishing to repair its corporate image following an industrial accident that had injured many Chinese sailors. Along with other donors including the United Kingdom government and companies such as HSBC
, Lugard finally had enough to build the university.
Lugard laid the foundation stone of the main building on 16 March 1910 and hoped that the university would educate more Chinese people in British "imperial values", as opposed to those of other Western powers.
in emphasising the sciences over the humanities
. It opened with only a Faculty of Medicine
, which had evolved from the Hong Kong College of Medicine. However, within a year the Faculties of Engineering and Arts (which then did not offer sociology
and philosophy
degrees) were established. In December 1916, the university held its first congregation, with 23 graduates and five honorary graduates.
After the 1925–26 Canton-Hong Kong strikes, the government moved towards greater integration of Eastern culture, increasing the number of Chinese courses. In 1927, a degree in Chinese was created. Donations from wealthy businessmen Tang Chi Ngong and Fung Ping Shan – for whom campus buildings are named after – triggered an emphasis on Chinese cultural education. In 1941, the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong
led to the damage of university buildings, and the university closed until 1945.
The university was founded as an all-male institution. Women students were admitted for the first time only ten years later. In 1937, the Queen Mary Hospital opened and has served as the university's teaching hospital ever since.
. The Faculty of Social Sciences was established in 1967 and the Law Department in 1969. The student population in 1961 was 2,000, four times more than in 1941.
In 1982, the Faculty of Dentistry, based at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, was established. It remains to this day Hong Kong's only faculty training dental professionals. In 1984, both the School of Architecture and School of Education became fully-fledged faculties, and in the same year a separate Faculty of Law was created. The Faculty of Business and Economics was established in 2001 as the university's tenth and youngest faculty.
After 1989, the Hong Kong government began emphasizing local tertiary college (大專) education, retaining many local students who would have studied abroad in the United Kingdom. In preparation for the 1997 handover
, it also greatly increased student places and course variety. Consequently, the 2001 student population had grown to 14,300 and degree courses on offer numbered over a hundred.
HKU has nurtured the largest number of research postgraduate students in Hong Kong, making up approximately 10% of the total student population. All ten faculties and departments provide teaching and supervision for research (MPhil and PhD) students with administration undertaken by the Graduate School.
"as a recognition of the generosity" of Mr. Li Ka Shing
and his Foundation, who pledged HK$1 billion in support of the university "general development as well as research and academic activities in medicine".
Vice Premier
Li Keqiang
began a three day visit to promote development between Hong Kong and mainland China. The school was locked down and mishandled by the local police force causing the Hong Kong 818 incident
.
In a statement to the HKU community, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lap-chee Tsui, admitted that the security arrangements could have been better planned and organized, and apologized to the university’s students and alumni for not having been able to prevent the unhappy incident. He assured them that “the University campus belongs to students and teachers, and that it will always remain a place for freedom of expression”.
On August 30, 2011, the university’s Council resolved to set up a panel to review issues arising from the State leader’s visit, in order to improve arrangements and establish appropriate mechanisms and policies for university events in the future in a manner that would be consistent with its commitment to freedom of expression.
by the university in October 1912. On 14 May 1913, the Shield, along with 2 motti (1 in Latin, 1 in Chinese) were granted by the College of Arms. The field
resembles the lions on the Coat of arms of England
, whereas the book on the shield is a common reference to university's role in learning and knowledge.
The Latin motto Sapientia et Virtus translated in to English as "Wisdom and Virtue". The Chinese motto on the pages of the opened book, written from right to left, top to bottom in accandance with traditional Chinese writing direction
, contains 2 phrases: 明德 (ming tak) and 格物 (kak mat), meaning "illustrious virtue" and "the investigation of things" respectively. The first phrase ming tak makes homage to the opening sentence of classic Confucian Classical Chinese
literature the Great Learning
, in which the author discusses the 3 great duties of a ruler – illustrious virtue, the renewal of the people, and repose in the highest good. The second phrase kak mat is a reference to the writing of Confucian scholar Zhu Xi
致知在格物 (lit. exhausting by examination the principles of things and affairs) The phrase occurs in discussion regarding how wise rulers set about cultivating wisdom and virtue. If one desires to rectify his hearts, he must first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, he must first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.
In 1981, the year of the university's 70th anniversary, an application was made to the College of Arms for a full coat of arms, which was granted in 1984, comprising the original shield and motti with the addition of a crest
, supporters, a helmet
and compartment.
The supporters of the coat of arms are a Chinese dragon
and a lion
representing Britain, indicating the university's aspiration to blend East and West, from the foundation by British people in Hong Kong and the later development of the university's research and studies in both west and east culture and technology. whereas the compartment is an allusion to Hong Kong Island
, where the university is located.
The university's main campus covers 160,000 square metres of land on Bonham Road
and Pok Fu Lam Road
in the Mid-levels
of Hong Kong Island
. HKU buildings are some of the few remaining examples of British Colonial architecture in Hong Kong.
The Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
is situated 4.5 km southwest of the main campus, in the Southern District
near Sandy Bay
and Pok Fu Lam
. The medical campus includes Queen Mary Hospital
, the William M.W. Mong Building and research facilities. The Faculty of Dentistry is situated in the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Sai Ying Pun.
The university also operates the Kadoorie Agricultural Research Center, which occupies 95,000 square metres of land in the New Territories
, and the Swire
Institute of Marine Science at the southern tip of the d'Aguilar Peninsula
on Hong Kong Island.
The oldest structure in the University of Hong Kong was sponsored by Sir Hormusjee Naorojee Mody
and designed by Architect Messrs Leigh and Orange. Constructed between 1910 and 1912, it comprised two courtyards in the post-renaissance style built with red brick and granite. The main elevation is articulated by four turrets with a central clock tower (a gift from Sir Paul Chater in 1930). Two courtyards were added in the south in 1952 and one floor in the end block in 1958. It was originally used as classrooms and laboratories for the Faculty of Medicine and Engineering and is now the home of departments within the Faculty of Arts. The central Great Hall (Loke Yew
Hall) is named after Mr. Loke Yew
, a benefactor of the university in its early years. It became a declared monument
in 1984.
Financed by Sir Paul Chater, Professor G. P. Jordan and others, it was opened in 1919 by the Governor of Hong Kong Sir Reginald Stubbs and housed the student union
. After World War II, the building was used temporarily for administrative purposes. The East Wing was added in 1960. The building was converted into the Senior Common Room in 1974. It was named in honour of Mr Hung Hing Ying in 1986 for his family's donations to the university. The building was subsequently used again for administrative purposes, and now houses the Department of Music. The two-storey Edwardian style structure is characterised by a central dome and the use of red brick to emulate the main building opposite. The building was declared a monument in 1995.
Sir William Peel in 1931 and since then further donations have been received for the endowment of teaching Chinese language and literature. The building has been used for other purposes since the 1970s but the name remained unchanged. At present, it houses the Centre of Asian Studies. This three-storey flat-roofed structure is surfaced with Shanghai plaster and was declared a monument in 1995.
The three-storey Fung Ping Shan Museum was erected in 1932 as a library for Chinese books. Named after its donor, the building consists of masonry on the ground level surmounted by a two-storey red-brick structure with applied ornamental columns topped by a pediment over its entrance. Since 1962, the Chinese books collection, now known as the Fung Ping Shan Library, was transferred to the University's new Main Library and the whole building was converted into a museum for Chinese art and archaeology. Among its collections are ceramics, pottery and bronzes. In 1996, the lowest three floors of the new T. T. Tsui Building were added to the old building to form the University Museum and Art Gallery.
ranked the University of Hong Kong as follows:
The QS World University Rankings
ranked the University of Hong Kong as follows:
, Donald Y. K. Tsang
. The Pro-Chancellor is David Li. The Chairman of the University Council is Dr. Leong Che Hung
. The Vice-Chancellor and President is Professor Lap-Chee Tsui
. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost is Professor Roland T. H. Chin, and the Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Vice-Presidents are Professor S. P. Chow, Professor J. G. Malpas, Professor Peter K. H. Tam and Professor Amy B. M. Tsui. The academic staff population is over 800.
Professor Ian Davies was the Vice-Chancellor for two years before a worldwide search culminated in the selection of Professor Lap-Chee Tsui as the new head of the University in 2002.
The business school (now the Faculty of Business and Economics) was founded by Gordon Redding
.
, an international consortium of research-led universities. HKU benefits from a large operating budget supplied by high levels of government funding compared to many Western countries. Since 1991, the Research Grants Council (RGC) has granted the University of Hong Kong a total of HK$893 million, the highest amount amongst all eight universities in the territory http://www.hku.hk/about/research.html. HKU professors were among the highest paid in the world as well, having salaries far exceeding those of their U.S. counterparts in private universities. However, with the reduction of salaries in recent years, this is no longer the case.
100 members of academic staff (>10% of professoriate staff) from HKU are ranked among the world's top 1% of scientists by the ISI, by means of the citations recorded on their publications. http://www.hku.hk/about/profile.html
HKU attracts some of the best students in Hong Kong. For the last five years, the university has admitted around 50% of all the Hong Kong A-level Grade-A students. It accepts most of its undergraduate students from Form 7 graduates of local secondary schools through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System
(JUPAS). The University also operates an Early Admissions Scheme (EAS) which allows Form 6 students with at least 6 Grade A in the HKCEE (local schools) or at least 6 A* in GCSE or IGCSE
(international schools) results to join the university without sitting the Hong Kong A-Level Examination. In 2009, over 50% of all Early Admissions Scheme applicants put HKU as their first choice.
HKU SPACE was established in 1956 to provide continuing education
on a wide range of subjects, for instance, Japanese language courses and Mandarin language courses. HKU SPACE runs its programmes without subsidy from the Hong Kong Government and has recently evolved into a community college-type institution, somewhat similar to community college
s in the US.
HKUL now comprises the Main Library and six specialist branch libraries, the Dental, Education, Fung Ping Shan (East Asian Language), Yu Chun Keung Medical, Lui Che Woo Law and the Music Library. They are located in buildings around the campus with varying opening hours.
Mostly male and female with shared room types unless specified.
There are two officially recognised student bodies, giving opportunities for students to participate in extracurricular activities.
The Hong Kong University Students' Union
(HKUSU) principally serves the undergraduate students. This organization is renowned amongst student activists, having been the main driving force behind evicting a chancellor in recent years. There was controversy when the head of the Students' Union, Ayo Chan, said that some of the protesters involved in the Tiananmen Square Massacre had acted irrationally. Many students thought his remarks were offensive and he was ousted by a vote in under one week. The Postgraduate Students Association (PGSA) represents the postgraduate students.
, founding president of the Republic of China
, who was a graduate of the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese, the predecessor of HKU. Over 40 principal officials, permanent secretaries, and Executive Council/Legislative Council members of the Hong Kong SAR Government are HKU graduates. HKU graduates also form the senior management teams of many large organisations in the private sector.
ranked the University of Hong Kong 24th in the world. Student welfare is served by several units, including the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS), which provides guidance for most areas of student life; and University Health Service
, which provides health care, referrals and preventive services. This student run organization offers more than 100 clubs and associations catering to the student population.
Students from abroad will be assigned to a local student with whom they can correspond with prior to their departure for Hong Kong. These local students greet the visiting students upon arrival at the airport, assist with settling into student residence and offer advice and support during their stay.
More than 3,000 students have participated in the exchange programmes through universities spanning 18 countries around the world with the support of the University Grants Committee
, the University of Hong Kong Foundation for Educational Development and Research, the Hongkong Bank Foundation
, the UBC Alumni Association (Hong Kong), the Dr. Lee Shiu Scholarships for Hong Kong and South-East Asia Academic Exchange, Shell (Hong Kong) Limited, and the C.V. Starr Scholarship Fund and other donations.
HKU is also trying to better its alumni and external network for financially sustainable development.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Its motto is "Sapientia et Virtus" in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, meaning "wisdom and virtue", and "" in Chinese. The medium of instruction
Medium of instruction
Medium of instruction is a language used in teaching. It may or may not be the official language of the country or territory. Where the first language of students is different from the official language, it may be used as the medium of instruction for part or all of schooling. Bilingual or...
in most classes is English..
According to the QS World University Rankings
QS World University Rankings
The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004....
2011/12, it was ranked 22nd in the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
and the best in both Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
., although the QS Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n University Rankings department which releases an independent ranking each year placed it at 2nd in both Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
(after The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology). In another rankings, the 2011–2012 Times Higher Education World University Rankings
Times Higher Education World University Rankings
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is an international ranking of universities published by the British magazine Times Higher Education in partnership with Thomson Reuters, which provided citation database information...
cooperating with Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters Corporation is a provider of information for the world's businesses and professionals and is created by the Thomson Corporation's purchase of Reuters Group on 17 April 2008. Thomson Reuters is headquartered at 3 Times Square, New York City, USA...
as the new data supplier since 2010, the HKU was ranked 34th in the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
, 2nd in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and the best in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Yet, these are just the overall results and rankings of different subjects are likely to be different.
Origins
Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese
The Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese was the first college in Hong Kong to fully adopt and accept Western medical science practices...
, founded by the London Missionary Society
London Missionary Society
The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa...
in 1887 and would later become the Medical Faculty of the University of Hong Kong. The college is noted for being China's Father of the Nation
Father of the Nation
Father of the Nation is an honorific title given to a man considered the driving force behind the establishment of their country, state or nation...
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
's alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
.
The university was founded in 1911 when Governor
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
Sir Frederick Lugard proposed to establish a university in Hong Kong to compete with the other Great Powers opening universities in China, most notably Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, which had just opened Tongji University
Tongji University
Tongji University , colloquially known as Tongji , located in Shanghai, has more than 30,000 students and 8,000 staff members . It offers degree programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels...
in Shanghai. The colonial Hong Kongers shared British values and allowed Britain to expand its influence in southern China and consolidate its rule in Hong Kong.
Parsi
Parsi or Parsee refers to a member of the larger of the two Zoroastrian communities in South Asia, the other being the Irani community....
businessman Sir Hormusjee Naorojee Mody learned of Lugard's plan and pledged to donate HK$150,000 towards the construction and HK$30,000 towards other costs. The Hong Kong Government and the business sector in southern China, which were both equally eager to learn "secrets of the West's success" (referring to technological advances made since the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
), also gave their support. The Swire Group
Swire Group
The Swire Group is a transnational corporation headquartered in the Swire House in the City of Westminster, London, England. It controls a range of wholly owned businesses, including deep-sea shipping, cold storage, road transport, and agricultural activities. The current chairman is James...
also contributed funds, wishing to repair its corporate image following an industrial accident that had injured many Chinese sailors. Along with other donors including the United Kingdom government and companies such as HSBC
HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
, Lugard finally had enough to build the university.
Lugard laid the foundation stone of the main building on 16 March 1910 and hoped that the university would educate more Chinese people in British "imperial values", as opposed to those of other Western powers.
December 1916: first congregation
The university was formally established in 1911 and had its opening ceremony in 1912. As Lugard felt that Chinese society at the time was not suited to ideals such as communism, the university originally emulated the University of ManchesterUniversity of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
in emphasising the sciences over the humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
. It opened with only a Faculty of Medicine
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
The Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong is the older of the two medical schools in Hong Kong , and is among the oldest in the Far East.-History:...
, which had evolved from the Hong Kong College of Medicine. However, within a year the Faculties of Engineering and Arts (which then did not offer sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
degrees) were established. In December 1916, the university held its first congregation, with 23 graduates and five honorary graduates.
Move towards Chinese cultural education, and WW2
Battle of Hong Kong
The Battle of Hong Kong took place during the Pacific campaign of World War II. It began on 8 December 1941 and ended on 25 December 1941 with Hong Kong, then a Crown colony, surrendering to the Empire of Japan.-Background:...
led to the damage of university buildings, and the university closed until 1945.
The university was founded as an all-male institution. Women students were admitted for the first time only ten years later. In 1937, the Queen Mary Hospital opened and has served as the university's teaching hospital ever since.
Post-WW2
After World War II, the university reopened and underwent structural developments as post-war reconstruction efforts began in earnest, requiring more investment in law and social sciencesSocial sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
. The Faculty of Social Sciences was established in 1967 and the Law Department in 1969. The student population in 1961 was 2,000, four times more than in 1941.
In 1982, the Faculty of Dentistry, based at the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, was established. It remains to this day Hong Kong's only faculty training dental professionals. In 1984, both the School of Architecture and School of Education became fully-fledged faculties, and in the same year a separate Faculty of Law was created. The Faculty of Business and Economics was established in 2001 as the university's tenth and youngest faculty.
After 1989, the Hong Kong government began emphasizing local tertiary college (大專) education, retaining many local students who would have studied abroad in the United Kingdom. In preparation for the 1997 handover
Transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong
The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, referred to as ‘the Return’ or ‘the Reunification’ by the Chinese and ‘the Handover’ by others, took place on 1 July 1997...
, it also greatly increased student places and course variety. Consequently, the 2001 student population had grown to 14,300 and degree courses on offer numbered over a hundred.
HKU has nurtured the largest number of research postgraduate students in Hong Kong, making up approximately 10% of the total student population. All ten faculties and departments provide teaching and supervision for research (MPhil and PhD) students with administration undertaken by the Graduate School.
2001: 90th anniversary
The year 2001 marked the 90th Anniversary of HKU. Growing with Hong Kong: HKU and its Graduates – The First 90 Years was published by the University Press in 2002 as an impact study on HKU's graduates in different fields of Hong Kong.2006: renaming of Faculty of Medicine
In January 2006, despite protest from some students and various alumni, the Faculty of Medicine was renamed as the Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineLi Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
The Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong is the older of the two medical schools in Hong Kong , and is among the oldest in the Far East.-History:...
"as a recognition of the generosity" of Mr. Li Ka Shing
Li Ka Shing
Sir Ka-shing Li, GBM, KBE, JP is a Chinese business magnate based in Hong Kong. He is the richest person of East Asian descent in the world and the eleventh richest person in the world with an estimated wealth of US$26.0 billion on 10 March 2011...
and his Foundation, who pledged HK$1 billion in support of the university "general development as well as research and academic activities in medicine".
2011: 818 incident
On 16 August, 2011 Communist Party of ChinaCommunist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
Vice Premier
Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China
The Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China is a high-ranking executive assistant to the Premier. There is a First-ranking Vice Premier , sometimes called Executive Vice Premier wrongly by the non-official media. It is an informal title and takes over duties of the...
Li Keqiang
Li Keqiang
Li Keqiang is the First-ranking Vice-Premier and deputy Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, the seventh ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the People's Republic of China's de facto highest decision-making body...
began a three day visit to promote development between Hong Kong and mainland China. The school was locked down and mishandled by the local police force causing the Hong Kong 818 incident
Hong Kong 818 incident
The Hong Kong 818 incident was a case of alleged civil rights violations that occurred on 18 August 2011 at Hong Kong University during a visit by Li Keqiang, the Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China. His arrival at the school led to a lock-down and complete takeover of the school by...
.
In a statement to the HKU community, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lap-chee Tsui, admitted that the security arrangements could have been better planned and organized, and apologized to the university’s students and alumni for not having been able to prevent the unhappy incident. He assured them that “the University campus belongs to students and teachers, and that it will always remain a place for freedom of expression”.
On August 30, 2011, the university’s Council resolved to set up a panel to review issues arising from the State leader’s visit, in order to improve arrangements and establish appropriate mechanisms and policies for university events in the future in a manner that would be consistent with its commitment to freedom of expression.
Shield, motto and coat of arms
The design of the university's Shield was proposed to the College of ArmsCollege of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
by the university in October 1912. On 14 May 1913, the Shield, along with 2 motti (1 in Latin, 1 in Chinese) were granted by the College of Arms. The field
Field (heraldry)
In heraldry, the background of the shield is called the field. The field is usually composed of one or more tinctures or furs. The field may be divided or may consist of a variegated pattern....
resembles the lions on the Coat of arms of England
Coat of arms of England
In heraldry, the Royal Arms of England is a coat of arms symbolising England and its monarchs. Its blazon is Gules three lions passant guardant in pale Or armed and langued Azure, meaning three identical gold lions with blue tongues and claws, walking and facing the observer, arranged in a column...
, whereas the book on the shield is a common reference to university's role in learning and knowledge.
The Latin motto Sapientia et Virtus translated in to English as "Wisdom and Virtue". The Chinese motto on the pages of the opened book, written from right to left, top to bottom in accandance with traditional Chinese writing direction
Horizontal and vertical writing in East Asian scripts
Many East Asian scripts can be written horizontally or vertically. The Chinese, Japanese and Korean scripts can be oriented in either direction, as they consist mainly of disconnected syllabic units, each occupying a square block of space...
, contains 2 phrases: 明德 (ming tak) and 格物 (kak mat), meaning "illustrious virtue" and "the investigation of things" respectively. The first phrase ming tak makes homage to the opening sentence of classic Confucian Classical Chinese
Classical Chinese
Classical Chinese or Literary Chinese is a traditional style of written Chinese based on the grammar and vocabulary of ancient Chinese, making it different from any modern spoken form of Chinese...
literature the Great Learning
Great Learning
The Great Learning was one of the "Four Books" in Confucianism. The Great Learning had come from a chapter in the Classic of Rites which formed one of the Five Classics. It consists of a short main text attributed to the teachings of Confucius and then ten commentary chapters accredited to one...
, in which the author discusses the 3 great duties of a ruler – illustrious virtue, the renewal of the people, and repose in the highest good. The second phrase kak mat is a reference to the writing of Confucian scholar Zhu Xi
Zhu Xi
Zhū Xī or Chu Hsi was a Song Dynasty Confucian scholar who became the leading figure of the School of Principle and the most influential rationalist Neo-Confucian in China...
致知在格物 (lit. exhausting by examination the principles of things and affairs) The phrase occurs in discussion regarding how wise rulers set about cultivating wisdom and virtue. If one desires to rectify his hearts, he must first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, he must first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.
In 1981, the year of the university's 70th anniversary, an application was made to the College of Arms for a full coat of arms, which was granted in 1984, comprising the original shield and motti with the addition of a crest
Crest (heraldry)
A crest is a component of an heraldic display, so called because it stands on top of a helmet, as the crest of a jay stands on the bird's head....
, supporters, a helmet
Helmet (heraldry)
In heraldic achievements, the helmet or helm is situated above the shield and bears the torse and crest. The style of helmet displayed varies according to rank and social status, and these styles developed over time, in step with the development of actual military helmets...
and compartment.
The supporters of the coat of arms are a Chinese dragon
Chinese dragon
Chinese dragons are legendary creatures in Chinese mythology and folklore, with mythic counterparts among Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Bhutanese, Western and Turkic dragons. In Chinese art, dragons are typically portrayed as long, scaled, serpentine creatures with four legs...
and a lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
representing Britain, indicating the university's aspiration to blend East and West, from the foundation by British people in Hong Kong and the later development of the university's research and studies in both west and east culture and technology. whereas the compartment is an allusion to Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
, where the university is located.
Campus
Bonham Road
Bonham Road is a road in Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The road is a main road connecting Pokfulam Road in the west, near the University of Hong Kong, and Caine Road in the east, at the junction with Hospital Road and Seymour Road...
and Pok Fu Lam Road
Pok Fu Lam Road
Pokfulam Road, or Pok Fu Lam Road, is a four-lane road in Hong Kong. Built on Hong Kong Island, the road runs between Sai Ying Pun and Wah Fu, through Pok Fu Lam....
in the Mid-levels
Mid-levels
Mid-levels is an expensive residential area on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is located halfway up Victoria Peak, directly above Central...
of Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
. HKU buildings are some of the few remaining examples of British Colonial architecture in Hong Kong.
The Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
The Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong is the older of the two medical schools in Hong Kong , and is among the oldest in the Far East.-History:...
is situated 4.5 km southwest of the main campus, in the Southern District
Southern District, Hong Kong
The Southern District is one of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the southern part of Hong Kong Island. It had a population of 290,240 in 2001. This district has the fourth lowest population of Hong Kong.-Geography:...
near Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay, Hong Kong
Sandy Bay is a bay located in Pokfulam and south of Mount Davis, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. It is home to numerous facilities including Kennedy School, West Island School, the Hong Kong University Stanley Ho Sports Centre, numerous hospitals and rehabilitation homes such as the Duchess of Kent...
and Pok Fu Lam
Pok Fu Lam
Pok Fu Lam or Pokfulam is a residential area on Hong Kong Island, at the western end of the Southern District.Pok Fu Lam is a valley between Victoria Peak and Mount Kellet, around Telegraph Bay....
. The medical campus includes Queen Mary Hospital
Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong
Queen Mary Hospital , located in Pok Fu Lam on Hong Kong Island of Hong Kong, is the flagship teaching hospital of the Faculty of Dentistry and Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong...
, the William M.W. Mong Building and research facilities. The Faculty of Dentistry is situated in the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Sai Ying Pun.
The university also operates the Kadoorie Agricultural Research Center, which occupies 95,000 square metres of land in the New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
, and the Swire
Swire Group
The Swire Group is a transnational corporation headquartered in the Swire House in the City of Westminster, London, England. It controls a range of wholly owned businesses, including deep-sea shipping, cold storage, road transport, and agricultural activities. The current chairman is James...
Institute of Marine Science at the southern tip of the d'Aguilar Peninsula
Cape D'Aguilar
Cape D'Aguilar, or Hok Tsui, is a cape in the south of Shek O and D'Aguilar Peak on southeastern Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The peninsula, where the cape is on its southeastern side, is also known as Cape D'Aguilar...
on Hong Kong Island.
Main building
Hormusjee Naorojee Mody
Sir Hormusjee Naorojee Mody was a successful Parsi businessman in Hong Kong.-Biography:He was born in Bombay and moved to Hong Kong around 1860...
and designed by Architect Messrs Leigh and Orange. Constructed between 1910 and 1912, it comprised two courtyards in the post-renaissance style built with red brick and granite. The main elevation is articulated by four turrets with a central clock tower (a gift from Sir Paul Chater in 1930). Two courtyards were added in the south in 1952 and one floor in the end block in 1958. It was originally used as classrooms and laboratories for the Faculty of Medicine and Engineering and is now the home of departments within the Faculty of Arts. The central Great Hall (Loke Yew
Loke Yew
Loke Yew , CMG, LL.D. was a famous businessman and philanthropist during the British Malaya era. He was regarded as the richest man in Malaysia during his time and played a significant role in the growth of Kuala Lumpur and was also one of the founding fathers of Victoria Institution, Kuala...
Hall) is named after Mr. Loke Yew
Loke Yew
Loke Yew , CMG, LL.D. was a famous businessman and philanthropist during the British Malaya era. He was regarded as the richest man in Malaysia during his time and played a significant role in the growth of Kuala Lumpur and was also one of the founding fathers of Victoria Institution, Kuala...
, a benefactor of the university in its early years. It became a declared monument
Declared monuments of Hong Kong
Declared monuments of Hong Kong are places, structures or buildings legally declared to be "protected". In Hong Kong, declaring a monument requires consulting the Antiquities Advisory Board, the approval of the Chief Executive as well as the publication of the notice in government gazette.As of 12...
in 1984.
Swire Building (太古樓)
In around 1980, the Swire Group sponsored the building of a new residential hall in the eastern extremity of the campus. Because of the sponsorship, the new student residence was named Swire Building. The building was officially opened by Mr. John Anthony Swire, C.B.E. on 11th November 1980. In the first open day of Swire Hall, orange was used as the background colour. Luckily, no other halls used orange as their hall colour. Hence, in 1983, orange was chosen to be the hall colour of Swire Hall in the second Annual General Meeting. In 1983, Mrs. J. Lau (Director of Centre Media Resources) provided a design of hall logo. The Swire Hall Students’ Association, HKUSU, then made some amendments to that design. The logo shows the words ‘S’ and ‘H’, which is the abbreviation of Swire Hall at that time. The design of the word ‘S’ looks like two hands holding together, signifying that all hall-mates should cooperate with each others. This promotes the hall motto ‘Unity and Sincerity’.Hung Hing Ying Building (孔慶熒樓)
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
. After World War II, the building was used temporarily for administrative purposes. The East Wing was added in 1960. The building was converted into the Senior Common Room in 1974. It was named in honour of Mr Hung Hing Ying in 1986 for his family's donations to the university. The building was subsequently used again for administrative purposes, and now houses the Department of Music. The two-storey Edwardian style structure is characterised by a central dome and the use of red brick to emulate the main building opposite. The building was declared a monument in 1995.
Tang Chi Ngong Building (鄧志昂樓)
The idea to establish a school of Chinese was proposed between the two World Wars. Construction of the premises began in 1929 with a donation from Mr Tang Chi-ngong, father of the philanthropist Sir Tang Shiu-kin, after whom the building was named. It was opened by Governor of Hong KongGovernor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
Sir William Peel in 1931 and since then further donations have been received for the endowment of teaching Chinese language and literature. The building has been used for other purposes since the 1970s but the name remained unchanged. At present, it houses the Centre of Asian Studies. This three-storey flat-roofed structure is surfaced with Shanghai plaster and was declared a monument in 1995.
University Museum and Art Gallery
Centennial Campus
To prepare for the new four-year undergraduate curriculum, HKU is developing a Centennial Campus on the west of the main campus. The construction of the campus started in late 2009, and will be completed in 2012, the first year of the introduction of the new academic structure in Hong Kong. In 2012, the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social Science will be moved into the Centennial Campus.Reputation/rankings
The Times Higher Education World University RankingsTimes Higher Education World University Rankings
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is an international ranking of universities published by the British magazine Times Higher Education in partnership with Thomson Reuters, which provided citation database information...
ranked the University of Hong Kong as follows:
| Year | Hong Kong | Asia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2012 | 1st | 2nd | 34th |
| 2010–2011 | 1st | 1st | 21st |
The QS World University Rankings
QS World University Rankings
The QS World University Rankings is a ranking of the world’s top 500 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds using a method that has published annually since 2004....
ranked the University of Hong Kong as follows:
| Year | Hong Kong | Asia | World |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1st | 1st | 22nd |
| 2010 | 1st | 1st | 23rd |
| 2009 | 1st | 2nd | 24th |
| 2008 | 1st | 3rd | 26th |
Administration
The University's Chancellor is the Chief Executive of Hong KongChief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
, Donald Y. K. Tsang
Donald Tsang
Sir Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, GBM, KBE is the current Chief Executive and President of the Executive Council of the Government of Hong Kong....
. The Pro-Chancellor is David Li. The Chairman of the University Council is Dr. Leong Che Hung
Leong Che Hung
Edward Leong Che-hung, GBS, OBE, JP is the non-official member of Executive Council of Hong Kong.By training, a physician, he was graduated from the University of Hong Kong as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery....
. The Vice-Chancellor and President is Professor Lap-Chee Tsui
Lap-Chee Tsui
Professor Lap-chee Tsui, OC, O.Ont is a Chinese-Canadian geneticist and currently the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Hong Kong.-Personal life:Tsui was born in Shanghai...
. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost is Professor Roland T. H. Chin, and the Pro-Vice-Chancellors and Vice-Presidents are Professor S. P. Chow, Professor J. G. Malpas, Professor Peter K. H. Tam and Professor Amy B. M. Tsui. The academic staff population is over 800.
Professor Ian Davies was the Vice-Chancellor for two years before a worldwide search culminated in the selection of Professor Lap-Chee Tsui as the new head of the University in 2002.
The business school (now the Faculty of Business and Economics) was founded by Gordon Redding
Gordon Redding
Gordon Redding , MA, PhD, D.Econ h.c., is an influential British professor, academic, author, editor, consultant, director and secretary general. He is today considered one of the most prominent specialists on China and the regional ethnic Chinese, having published over 10 books and 100 articles...
.
Research and endowment
The university is a founding member of Universitas 21Universitas 21
Universitas 21 is an international network of universities, established as an "international reference point and resource for strategic thinking on issues of global significance." Together, there are 500,000 students and 40,000 academics and researchers associated with these universities, which...
, an international consortium of research-led universities. HKU benefits from a large operating budget supplied by high levels of government funding compared to many Western countries. Since 1991, the Research Grants Council (RGC) has granted the University of Hong Kong a total of HK$893 million, the highest amount amongst all eight universities in the territory http://www.hku.hk/about/research.html. HKU professors were among the highest paid in the world as well, having salaries far exceeding those of their U.S. counterparts in private universities. However, with the reduction of salaries in recent years, this is no longer the case.
100 members of academic staff (>10% of professoriate staff) from HKU are ranked among the world's top 1% of scientists by the ISI, by means of the citations recorded on their publications. http://www.hku.hk/about/profile.html
Demographics
According to the latest profile indicators http://www.hku.hk/about/profile.html, the student population of the University was 21,652 in 2008–2009, comprising 11,962 undergraduates, 7,326 taught postgraduates and 2,364 research postgraduates. There were 2,068 non-local students (2008–2009) studying at the university.HKU attracts some of the best students in Hong Kong. For the last five years, the university has admitted around 50% of all the Hong Kong A-level Grade-A students. It accepts most of its undergraduate students from Form 7 graduates of local secondary schools through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System
Joint University Programmes Admissions System
The Joint University Programmes Admissions System or JUPAS in Hong Kong is a unified system for applying to the nine member institutions for full-time undergraduate programmes. In 2008 admissions, 35,298 students applied for programmes of the nine institutions under this scheme...
(JUPAS). The University also operates an Early Admissions Scheme (EAS) which allows Form 6 students with at least 6 Grade A in the HKCEE (local schools) or at least 6 A* in GCSE or IGCSE
IGCSE
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education is an internationally recognised qualification for school students, typically in the 14–16 age group. It is similar to the GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Standard Grade in Scotland or Junior Certificate in the Republic of...
(international schools) results to join the university without sitting the Hong Kong A-Level Examination. In 2009, over 50% of all Early Admissions Scheme applicants put HKU as their first choice.
Academic units
The university comprises 10 faculties and a number of non-faculty academic units, which provide study programmes and courses for students (source: http://hku.hk):Faculties
- Faculty of Architecture
- Faculty of Arts
- Faculty of Business and Economics
- Faculty of Dentistry
- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Engineering
- Faculty of Law
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong is the older of the two medical schools in Hong Kong , and is among the oldest in the Far East.-History:...
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Social Sciences
School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE)
Continuing education
Continuing education is an all-encompassing term within a broad spectrum of post-secondary learning activities and programs. The term is used mainly in the United States and Canada...
on a wide range of subjects, for instance, Japanese language courses and Mandarin language courses. HKU SPACE runs its programmes without subsidy from the Hong Kong Government and has recently evolved into a community college-type institution, somewhat similar to community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
s in the US.
HKU SPACE Community College
HKU SPACE Community College was established in March 2000. It mainly provides sub-degree programmes for Form 5 or Form 7 graduates to further their studies. There are three main streams of programmes provided, they are Higher Diploma Programmes (2-year and 3-year full time), Pre-Associate Degree (1-year full time) and Associate Degree (2-year full time).Libraries
HKU Libraries (HKUL) was established in 1912 and is the oldest academic library in Hong Kong with over 2.3 million holdings. A web-based library catalogue, DRAGON, allows one to search HKUL's books, journals and other resources.HKUL now comprises the Main Library and six specialist branch libraries, the Dental, Education, Fung Ping Shan (East Asian Language), Yu Chun Keung Medical, Lui Che Woo Law and the Music Library. They are located in buildings around the campus with varying opening hours.
HKUL Digital Initiatives
The HKUL Digital Initiatives, through its digitization projects, has opened up online access to local collections originally in print format. The first HKUL Digital Initiative, ExamBase, was launched in 1996 and other projects of scholarly interests were introduced. More digital projects are being developed to provide continuous access to digital content and services. It provides open access to Chinese and English academic and medical periodicals published in Hong Kong.Student services
These include:- Career Education and Placement Centre
- Computer Centre
- Centre of Development and Resources for Students
- Personal Development and Counselling Centre
- Sports and Recreation Programmes/Facilities
- University Dental Service
- University Health Service
- University Museum and Art GalleryUniversity Museum and Art GalleryUniversity Museum and Art Gallery is located at 94 Bonham Road, next to the University of Hong Kong's main entrance. Fung Ping Shan Building housed the Museum while the lower three storeys of the T T Tsui Building houses the Art Gallery...
(formerly Fung Ping Shan Museum)
Residential halls
- St. John's College (co-ed undergraduates and postgraduates, an Anglican Foundation College, single room)
- Morrison Hall (male undergraduates and co-ed postgraduates)
- Ricci Hall (male only, run by Jesuit Fathers, single room)
- Lady Ho Tung Hall (female only)
- University Hall (male only)
- Robert Black College (named after Governor Robert BlackRobert Brown BlackSir Robert Brown Black GCMG, OBE was a British colonial administrator. He would spend three decades overseas and return to Britain in the 1960s: he was Governor of Hong Kong from 23 January 1958 to 1 April 1964, having been Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1952 – 1955...
, postgraduates and visitors only) - Swire HallSwire HallSwire Hall is an undergraduate, co-educational dormitory in the University of Hong Kong . Opened on 30 November 1980, it is named after the Swire Group, a British transnational corporation, whose financial contributions made possible the building of the hall.Situated up a three-storey staircase...
- Simon K. Y. Lee Hall
- Lee Hysan Hall
- R.C. Lee Hall
- Wei Lun Hall
- Madam S.H. Ho Residence for Medical Students
- Pokfield Road Residences
- Graduate House (postgraduates only)
- Starr Hall (largest residential hall in HKU)
- Patrick Manson Student Residences
- Lee Shau Kee Hall
- Suen Chi Sun Hall
Non-residential halls
- Hornell Hall (male only)
- Duchess of Kent Hall (female only)
- Lee Chi Hung Hall (co-educational)
Student organisations
The Hong Kong University Students' Union
The Hong Kong University Students' Union
The Hong Kong University Students' Union is one of the two officially recognized student organizations in the University of Hong Kong, alongside with HKU Postgraduate Student Association.-History:...
(HKUSU) principally serves the undergraduate students. This organization is renowned amongst student activists, having been the main driving force behind evicting a chancellor in recent years. There was controversy when the head of the Students' Union, Ayo Chan, said that some of the protesters involved in the Tiananmen Square Massacre had acted irrationally. Many students thought his remarks were offensive and he was ousted by a vote in under one week. The Postgraduate Students Association (PGSA) represents the postgraduate students.
People affiliated with HKU
The University of Hong Kong has educated many notable people. One of them was Dr Sun Yat-senSun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
, founding president of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, who was a graduate of the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese, the predecessor of HKU. Over 40 principal officials, permanent secretaries, and Executive Council/Legislative Council members of the Hong Kong SAR Government are HKU graduates. HKU graduates also form the senior management teams of many large organisations in the private sector.
Study abroad programme
In 2009, the Times Higher Education SupplementThe Times Higher Education Supplement
The Times Higher Education , formerly Times Higher Education Supplement , is a weekly British magazine based in London reporting specifically on news and other issues related to higher education...
ranked the University of Hong Kong 24th in the world. Student welfare is served by several units, including the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS), which provides guidance for most areas of student life; and University Health Service
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences is a health science university run by the U.S. federal government. The primary mission of the school is to prepare graduates for service to the U.S. at home and abroad in the medical corps....
, which provides health care, referrals and preventive services. This student run organization offers more than 100 clubs and associations catering to the student population.
Students from abroad will be assigned to a local student with whom they can correspond with prior to their departure for Hong Kong. These local students greet the visiting students upon arrival at the airport, assist with settling into student residence and offer advice and support during their stay.
More than 3,000 students have participated in the exchange programmes through universities spanning 18 countries around the world with the support of the University Grants Committee
University Grants Committee (Hong Kong)
The University Grants Committee of Hong Kong is an advisory committee responsible for advising the Government of Hong Kong on the development and funding needs of higher education institutions within Hong Kong....
, the University of Hong Kong Foundation for Educational Development and Research, the Hongkong Bank Foundation
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited is a prominent bank established and based in Hong Kong since 1865 when Hong Kong was a colony of the British Empire. It is the founding member of the HSBC Group and since 1990 is now a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc...
, the UBC Alumni Association (Hong Kong), the Dr. Lee Shiu Scholarships for Hong Kong and South-East Asia Academic Exchange, Shell (Hong Kong) Limited, and the C.V. Starr Scholarship Fund and other donations.
Development
In addition to increased academic research and development, HKU aims to promote continuing education to the public, through improved links between the University and the School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPACE).HKU is also trying to better its alumni and external network for financially sustainable development.
See also
- University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law
- Hong Kong University Students' Union
- Education in Hong KongEducation in Hong KongEducation in Hong Kong has a similar system to that of the United Kingdom, in particular the English education system of Hong Kong was modernised by the British in 1861. The system is often described as extremely competitive by global standards....
- List of higher education institutions in Hong Kong
- List of buildings and structures in Hong Kong
- List of oldest universities in continuous operation
External links
- Ranking summary – University of Hong Kong
- HKU Glossary
- Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd.Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd.Wong & Ouyang Ltd. is a group of architectural and engineering practice with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Guangzhou.-External links:* * Wong & Ouyang Ltd., , September 2009...
, "More than half-a-century of architectural design experience in Hong Kong", section "Master Planning of the main campus and the centennial campus of the University of Hong Kong", pp. 44-48, September 2009