HKMU: integral part of Hong Kong’s past and future
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Four distinguished individuals today received honorary doctorates from Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), becoming part of Hong Kong’s largest self-funding university and one that this year has been celebrating its 35th anniversary. The ceremony followed the University’s 35th Congregation, running from late November to early December, in which qualifications were bestowed on close to 7,800 students from subdegree to postgraduate levels.
Forging closer industry ties
Many of the new programmes being rolled out by HKMU are setting new precedents for industry-centred education. Its business programme in Aviation Services Management with a new Cadet Pilot concentration is the first programme in Hong Kong that enables students to earn a degree while simultaneously training as a commercial pilot. A new Master of Applied Science programme in Intelligent Construction and Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the first programme recognised by the Construction Industry Council enabling non-construction first-degree holders to qualify as a BIM manager. Coming up is a new Bachelor of Applied Science in Gemmology and Jewellery Studies, another first in offering practitioners the ability to study for formal qualifications locally while continuing to work in the field.
HKMU’s industry-focused programmes offer students direct pathways to their careers of choice. One of the first initiatives of its newly set up Career Development Advisory Committee is a new HKMU Dream Builder Scheme, scheduled for roll-out in January 2025. It will offer shortlisted students intensive career and soft skills training, support in finding summer internships, and financial incentives to explore selected career paths.
Other opportunities for HKMU students to engage meaningfully with the wider world abound too. The HKMU Hackathon, MetroChallenge and HKMU Startup Fund are providing support for innovative and entrepreneurial students looking to get their ideas off the ground. A host of service-learning and community engagement initiatives are giving students hands-on opportunities to tackle challenging social issues, while competitions in multiple fields are offering showcases for student talents. Meanwhile, HKMU has introduced a mandatory Mental Health First Aid course for all undergraduate students, delivering essential skills for managing life pressures.
Strategic research breakthroughs
HKMU’s research initiatives are going from strength to strength. This year, it won 40% of the total research funding available from the Research Grants Council’s Competitive Research Funding Schemes for the Local Self-financing Degree Sector, topping the field both in terms of amount and number of projects funded. A new Hong Kong Metropolitan University Shenzhen Research Institute is due to open at the end of this year, and collaboration is underway with the Zhongshan Institute of the Changchun University of Science and Technology on a new laboratory in engineering, materials and environmental science. Patents for research commercialisation are also on the rise following the setting up of HKMU Research Development and Consultancy Limited two years ago. This year, 15 HKMU scholars were ranked among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists, making it the third consecutive year of growth in the number of HKMU scholars on the list.
Growing for the future
HKMU’s striking pace of growth has led to pressing demand for more space. This year, it secured Government approval to build a new campus complex in Ho Man Tin, adjacent to its existing major campuses. The new campus will reinforce its reputation as a community-focused institution by being positioned as a “Hub for Community Health and Wellness”. Student accommodation options have also been expanded with the purchase of a hotel, renamed “MU88”, catering for non-local students. Further citywide expansion is also on the cards, with the University looking to establish an Industrial Centre and a Satellite Campus to offer specialist facilities and talent training.
.jpg "HKMU held an Anniversary Banquet on 1 November, inviting the University community and friends to celebrate its past successes and look ahead to the future.")
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Currently Regents’ Professor and Fuller E. Callaway Professorial Chair at Georgia State University (GSU) in the United States, Prof. Cavusgil is also Executive Director of the Center for International Business Education & Research at GSU and Dean of Fellows at the Academy of International Business. He has forged a global reputation in such fields as internationalisation of the firm, global strategy, emerging markets and buyer-seller relationships in cross-border business. He was a Distinguished Professor at HKMU’s Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration from 2018 to 2020 and is currently a supervisor in the School’s Global PhD Programme.
Ms Chan Yuen-han, GBS, SBS, JP (Doctor of Social Sciences, honoris causa)
Ms Chan is inextricably linked with her work for the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU), which she joined at the age of 16 and has since served in the roles of Vice-Chairman, Honorary Chairman and Advisor. Throughout that time, she worked tirelessly on behalf of workers who had been unfairly treated. She served as a Legislative Council member for almost 20 years. As Chairman of the Women’s Commission, she supported the HKMU Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education in launching the Capacity Building Mileage Programme.
Prof. Cheng Kai-ming, SBS, JP (Doctor of Education, honoris causa)
Prof. Cheng has been a key figure in local educational policy for over 30 years, in a distinguished career that has encompassed roles as teacher, principal, researcher, university administrator, policymaker and global consultant. Prof. Cheng was integrally involved in the landmark 3-3-4 Scheme structural changes to Hong Kong’s educational framework introduced in 2012. He has a long-term connection with HKMU, serving as a Council member in its early years and frequently returning to the University to illuminate faculty and students on education topics.
Dr Choo Heng-cheong (Doctor of Letters, honoris causa)
