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Welcome to the seventh edition of CUHK in Focus.
Hong Kong’s universities have been making remarkable contributions in creating a thriving research ecosystem to galvanise our city’s transformation to a knowledge-based economy. As the main driving force of research and development, the higher education sector has a key part to play in the government’s blueprint for our city’s development.
Last week, CUHK submitted a formal proposal to the Hong Kong government as part of the public consultation ahead of the Chief Executive’s inaugural Policy Address scheduled for delivery on 19 October 2022. It is noteworthy that five universities in Hong Kong are ranked in the global top 100. We can leverage the strengths of our internationally recognised higher education system to bring real value to our nation.
As major beneficiaries of the One Country Two Systems model, local universities have a responsibility to consider how we can stimulate our city’s advancement as we board the express train of national development in this new chapter in Hong Kong’s history. We feel proud to offer a range of ideas for how Hong Kong’s higher education system can further integrate with national development. Our proposal, which is accessible via this link, articulates the value of Hong Kong’s higher education in forming the research backbone of the rapidly growing innovation and technology (I&T) and biomedical industries, creating the talent pipeline to transform economies, equipping our young people with a sense of social responsibility, as well as strengthening our distinctive global positioning as a critical gateway to mainland China.
Congratulations to the CUHK community
This year, 3,135 students who sat for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination have been admitted to the University through JUPAS, including seven out of the nine perfect scorers who achieved Level 5** in seven or more subjects. The University also admitted 57% of students who achieved 5** in four or more subjects in the HKDSE, representing the highest proportion among all JUPAS-participating institutions territory-wide. This is the best admissions result in CUHK’s history. My sincere congratulations and warm welcome go to all new students who are about to embark on a life-changing journey with us. I guarantee that the vibrant student experience at CUHK will enable you to unearth your talent and live to your full potential.
What’s more, it always gives me great pleasure to congratulate members of our community as they are acknowledged far and wide for their achievements. An extensive range of alumni, staff and the wider CUHK family once again did very well in the 2022 Honours List and have been acknowledged for their contributions to society. May I take this opportunity to congratulate all award recipients, and wish them many more successes in the future, which they so richly deserve.
Easing of quarantine rules
Last week also saw a welcome reduction in the mandatory quarantine for inbound travelers to Hong Kong. This long-awaited move signals Hong Kong transitioning to a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Local universities are sure to benefit from the new arrangements, which bring us one step closer towards full engagement with our global partners and international students. But it’s bigger than just our global collaborations – we are a highly international university, and I know many of you are keen to reconnect with family, friends and loved ones around the world. I hope this is but one step in a broader roadmap for us to reconnect with the world free of quarantine soon.
Sports without Limits
With summer in full swing, I am sure that many young people in Hong Kong are spending their holidays engaged in all sorts of exciting activities. Sports is an essential ingredient of personal health and wellbeing, and also a critical part of whole-person development, the core of CUHK’s educational philosophy.
CUHK distinguishes itself as the only UGC-funded university in Hong Kong offering a credit-bearing compulsory Physical Education programme. We are dedicated to promoting sports to enhance students’ whole-person development so that they will become physically, mentally and socially fit to confront challenges of the 21st century.
Our endeavour to foster the development of sports goes beyond campus. The Jockey Club ‘Sports without Limits’ Youth Empowerment Programme organised by our Department of Sports Science and Physical Education encourages disabled children to get active through the promotion of adapted physical activity (APA). Since its launch in 2019, the Programme has benefited thousands of teachers, students and their families from 29 local special schools.
The Programme has recently taken its mission further by collaborating with the Global Schools programme initiated by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Hong Kong Chapter of the United Nations’ SDSN, co-hosted by CUHK, to offer UNESCO-certified professional training courses. Earlier this month, I had the honour of attending the opening ceremony of a three-day virtual international symposium of the Programme, which attracted more than 550 scholars, researchers, and practitioners worldwide to discuss the role of APA in the promotion of the health of disabled students, and share cutting-edge research and practice across disciplines. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Education Bureau for empowering us to fulfil our vision to achieve “Excellence with Purpose and Responsibility” as we teach, research and innovate to create social impact.
I look forward to sharing more stories with you next time.
Best wishes,
Professor Rocky S. Tuan
Vice-Chancellor and President
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
