The Chinese University of Hong Kong

The Chinese University of Hong Kong
香港中文大學

CUHK Emblem
Motto 博文約禮 (Classical Chinese)[1]
Motto in English
 Through learning and temperance to virtue[1]
Established 17 October 1963
Type Public
Chairman Dr. Vincent Cheng
Chancellor Leung Chun-ying
Provost Prof. Benjamin Wah
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joseph Sung
Pro-Vice-Chancellors Prof. Benjamin Wah
Prof. Ching Pak-chung
Prof. Michael Hui
Prof. Hau Kit-tai
Prof. Fok Tai-fai
Prof. Fanny M.C. Cheung
Students 28,688 (as of December 2012)[2]
Undergraduates 15,351[2]
Postgraduates 13,337[2]
Location Shatin, New Territories
22°25′11″N 114°12′24.45″E / 22.41972°N 114.2067917°ECoordinates: 22°25′11″N 114°12′24.45″E / 22.41972°N 114.2067917°E
Campus Rural
137.3 hectares (1.373 km2)
Colours
Mascot Fenghuang (Chinese phoenix)[1]
Affiliations ASAIHL, ACU, IAU, WUN, ACUCA
Website www.cuhk.edu.hk
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Traditional Chinese 香港中文大學
Simplified Chinese 香港中文大学

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a public research university in Shatin, Hong Kong, formally established in 1963 by a charter granted by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. It is the territory's second oldest institution of higher learning, and the only collegiate university. The University was originally founded as a federation of three existing colleges, Chung Chi College, New Asia College and United College, the oldest of which was founded in 1949.[3]

Today, CUHK is organised into nine constituent colleges and eight academic faculties. Though the original University Charter stipulates Chinese as the principal language,[4] English is currently the main medium of instruction, with Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese being retained by a minority of colleges and departments only.[5] As of 2013, four Nobel laureates are associated with the University, making it the only tertiary institution in the territory with recipients of the Nobel Prize, Turing Award, Fields Medal and Veblen Prize as faculty in residence.[6]

History

Origins

The emblem of Yenching University, one of the precursors of Chung Chi College.

The university was formed in 1963 as a federation of three existing colleges. The first of these, New Asia College, was established in 1949 by anti-Communist Confucian scholars from Mainland China amid the revolution there. Among the founders were Ch'ien Mu, Tang Junyi, and Tchang Pi-kai. Curriculum focused particularly on Chinese heritage and social concerns. The early years of this school were tumultuous, with the campus relocating several times between rented premises around Kowloon. Academics there were often self-exiled from the mainland and they struggled financially, with students sometimes sleeping on rooftops and teachers foregoing pay to sustain the college. Funds were gradually raised and the school moved to a new campus in Kau Pui Lung, built with the support of the Ford Foundation, in 1956.[7]

Following the Communist revolution and the breakdown in relations between China and the United States at the 1950 outbreak of the Korean War, all Christian colleges and universities in the People's Republic of China were shut down.[8] Chung Chi College was founded in 1951 by Protestant churches in Hong Kong to continue the theological education of mainland churches and schools. The 63 students of its first year operating were taught in various church and rented premises on Hong Kong Island. The college moved to its present location in Ma Liu Shui (i.e., the present CUHK campus) in 1956.[9] By 1962, a year before the founding of CUHK, Chung Chi had 531 students in 10 departments taught by a full-time faculty of 40, excluding tutors.[10]

United College was founded in 1956 with the merging of five private colleges in Guangdong province: Canton Overseas, Kwang Hsia, Wah Kiu, Wen Hua, and Ping Jing College of Accountancy. The first school president was Dr F.I. Tseung. The original campus on Caine Road on Hong Kong Island accommodated over 600 students.[11]

These three colleges (along with some others created during this era) helped fill a void in the post-secondary education options available to Hong Kong Chinese students. Before 1949, such students could attend a university in the mainland. But with this option spoiled by the upheavals in China, students were unable to further their studies at a university unless their English proficiency was sufficient to enrol at the University of Hong Kong, then the only university in the territory. In 1957, New Asia College, Chung Chi College, and United College came together to establish the Chinese Colleges Joint Council.

Foundation

In June 1959, the Hong Kong government expressed its intent to establish a new university with a medium of instruction of Chinese. The same year the Post-Secondary Colleges Ordinance was announced to provide government funding and official recognition to New Asia, Chung Chi and United colleges in hopes that the money would "enable them to raise their standards to a level at which they might qualify for university status, probably on a federal basis".[10] The ordinance was enacted on 19 May 1960.

The Chinese University Preparatory Committee was established in June 1961 to advise the government on possible sites for the new university. The following May, the Fulton Commission was formed to assess the suitability of the three government-funded Post-Secondary Colleges to become constituent colleges of the new university. The commission, headed by Vice-Chancellor John Fulton of the newly established University of Sussex, visited Hong Kong over the summer and produced an interim report recommending the establishment of the federal university comprising the three colleges.[12]

The Fulton Commission report was tabled in the Legislative Council in June 1963, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong Ordinance was passed in September of that year. The school was officially inaugurated in a ceremony at City Hall on 17 October 1963, officiated by the founding chancellor, Sir Robert Brown Black. The next year Dr. Li Choh-ming was appointed the first Vice-Chancellor of the university. The university originally comprised the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Social Science. Construction began at the site of the new campus in the Ma Liu Shui area, where Chung Chi College was already established, for new facilities to house central administration and the relocated New Asia and United colleges.

1963–present

View from Chung Chi, toward New Asia College on the summit

Construction on the new campus continued throughout the 1960s to a development plan produced by W. Szeto and Partners. Above the valley occupied by Chung Chi College, on two plateaux formed by granite quarrying for the Plover Cove dam, the quarters for the other two colleges would flank the Central campus housing administration and shared facilities.[13][14] Some of the most iconic buildings on campus, like the University Library, were built in this period along the monumental axis of the University Mall in the subdued concrete aesthetic for which the school is known. The School of Education, which would later become a faculty, was founded in 1965. The Graduate School, the first in Hong Kong, was founded in 1966 and the first batch of master's degrees were awarded the following year.

In the early 1970s, New Asia and United College moved into their new premises on the highest plateau of the campus. The Student Union was established in 1971. The School of Medicine was founded in 1977 and the teaching hospital, the Prince of Wales Hospital in nearby Sha Tin New Town, was established several years later. The first non-founding college, Shaw College, was named after its patron, Sir Run Run Shaw, who donated five hundred million Hong Kong dollars toward its establishment in May 1985. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Declaration of Shaw College) Ordinance was passed by the Legislative Council in July 1986, and the fourth college was officially opened in March 1990 by Run Run Shaw and Governor David Wilson.[15][16]

The 1990s brought about another building boom. The old Chung Chi teaching and administration blocks were demolished and replaced with larger, more modern structures in several phases over the course of a decade. The Ho Sin-Hang engineering block opened in 1994 to house the new School of Engineering. In 1994, the school transitioned to a British-style three-year bachelor degree system.[17] The Hong Kong Internet Exchange, a metropolitan network backbone, was founded in 1995 and remains an internet hub for the region.[18]

The school is presently undergoing another period of expansion, in part to accommodate increased student numbers brought about by the 334 Scheme. Five new colleges have come into operation in recent years: Morningside College and S. H. Ho College were announced in 2006, and were followed in 2007 by C. W. Chu College, Wu Yee Sun College and Lee Woo Sing College. These colleges are smaller in scale than the existing ones, each comprising only one or two blocks rather than an entire section of campus and housing fewer students, but they nonetheless each contain the usual array of facilities like student hostels, amenities and communal dining halls. New teaching blocks and a student amenity centre have also recently opened near the railway station.

Goddess of Democracy

large bronze statue and relief laid out on paved walkway cordoned off with blue and white tape but surrounded by curious visitors
The Goddess and the accompanying relief at the Chinese University Shatin campus
B/W image of hundreds of people orderly sitting outdoors, with an unfurled banner
Students attend an open-air meeting at the university campus

On 29 May 2010, when the CUHK student union sought to permanently locate a 'Goddess of Democracy' statue on campus, the administrative and planning committee of the University convened an emergency meeting for 1 June, chaired by incumbent Vice-chancellor Lawrence Lau, to consider the request.[19] The application was turned down; the reason provided was the need for the University to maintain political neutrality. Staff and students objected to the refusal, however, accusing the committee of self-censorship; students declared they were prepared for a stand-off against the University, saying they would ensure the statues were accommodated on campus "at all costs".[20]

A student meeting was convened, and student union President Eric Lai told 2,000 attendees that the University officials should apologise for their opposition of the art display.[21] On 4 June, bowing to public outcry and student pressure, the University relented, and allowed the statue on campus.[22]

Vice-chancellor designate Joseph Sung, who was consulted on the vote in absentia, admitted that it was the biggest political storm in 21 years. He revealed that, in addition to preserving political neutrality, safety and security concerns were factors in the decision. He also drew a distinction between this application – for a permanent University installation – and hypothetical applications for short-term expressions of free speech, suggesting the latter would have been more likely to be approved, but he criticised the management team as "immature" and "inexperienced" in handling the incident.[19]

An editorial in The Standard criticised the committee's naivety in not anticipating the reaction. It was also highly critical of Sung for seeking to distance himself from the decision with such a "lame excuse".[22] Outgoing Vice-chancellor Lawrence Lau defended the committee's decision as "collective and unanimous" after "detailed consideration," citing the unanimous vote of the administrative and planning committee, and he disagreed with Sung's characterisation of the management team. While the vote was unanimous, however, Sung stated that he had suggested the wording of the decision include the qualification that the committee "had not reached a consensus."[23]

The student union said the two professors should have communicated to reach a consensus, and that Lau's reply "failed to explain why the school used political neutrality as a reason to reject the statue."[24]

Administration and organisation

Governance

The Chancellor of CUHK, like all other universities of Hong Kong, is the chief executive of HKSAR and the President/Vice-chancellor is under the Council of the university, followed by the Pro-vice-chancellor/Vice-president. There are nine colleges and eight faculties, each of which has its own Dean/Head.[25]

CUHK is a comprehensive research university with most departments and schools organised into eight faculties, namely the Faculties of Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science, and Social Science, along with a graduate school which administrates all the postgraduate programmes provided by different academic units. Moreover, associate School of Continuing and Professional Studies (CUSCS) offers associate degree and higher diploma programmes.

Funding

In 2005, the university budget was HK$4,558 million, with government subvention of about HK$2,830 million.[26] In the 2008–09 fiscal year (starts 1 April), total income was down to $4,413 million while government subvention had risen to $2,916 million.[27]

Academics

Science Centre in the main campus
Laboratory block at the University Science Centre

Teaching and Learning

CUHK currently adopts a strategic plan in five fields of academic inquiry: Biomedical Sciences, Chinese Studies, Economics & Finance, Geoinformation & Earth Sciences and Information Sciences.[28] Despite the stipulation of using Chinese language as the principal medium in the University's ordinance,[4] CUHK has emphasised the importance of both English and Chinese. However, most classes still adopt English as the main language of instruction.[5]

Research

The Yale-China Chinese Language Centre (CLC), formerly New Asia – Yale-in-China Chinese Language Center, was founded in 1963 under the joint auspices of New Asia College and the Yale-China Association. The centre became part of Chinese University in 1974 and has been responsible for the teaching of one language education (Putonghua and Cantonese) of university students as well as other Putonghua and Cantonese learners. Courses are offered for non-native speakers and for native speakers of Chinese.

Programmes are divided into Putonghua courses for local students, Cantonese courses for mainland Chinese Students and Putonghua and Cantonese courses for international exchange students.

The University also hosts Childhood Bilingualism Research Centre (CBRC), part of the Department of Linguistics and Modern Languages. Research at the centre includes documenting the development of bilingualism in bilingual children and assessing the bilingual competence they gain in childhood; raising the public's awareness of Hong Kong children's development of biliteracy and trilingualism; and studying and supporting the revitalisation of minority languages in the context of bilingual and multilingual education. The centre is directed by Professor Virginia Yip and Dr. Stephen Matthews.[29]

Libraries and museums

Gate of Wisdom, a 1987 bronze sculpture by Ju Ming,[30] standing outside of the University Library.

The University Library System (ULS) comprises seven different library locations and several special collections. The largest library is the University Library at the Central Campus, which recently underwent a significant renovation and building expansion. The other six libraries are the Elisabeth Luce Moore Library, Ch’ien Mu Library, Wu Chung Multimedia Library, Architecture Library, Li Ping Medical Library, and Lee Quo Wei Law Library.

Among the collections housed by ULS includes the Hong Kong Studies Archive, Hong Kong Literature Collection, Chinese Overseas Collection, Nobel Laureate GAO, Xingjian Collection, Nobel Laureate CY Yang Archive, American Studies Resource Collection and Modern Chinese Drama Collection.

CUHK also houses the Chinese University of Hong Kong Art Museum, which houses "a wide range of artefacts illuminating the rich arts, humanities and cultural heritage of ancient and pre-modern China."[26]

A new 800 square metres (8,600 sq ft) Museum of Climate Change, the first such museum in Hong Kong, opened in December 2013 in the Yasumoto International Academic Park building. Funded by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the 100 exhibits on display illustrate the effects of climate change. The museum is open to the public free of charge. Also in 2013, the University Gallery opened in the central library to showcase the history of the school in light of its Golden Jubilee anniversary.

Reputation and rankings

University rankings
Global
ARWU[31] 151–200
Times[32] 129
QS<ref name="Rankings_QS_W>{{cite web |url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2014 |title=QS World University Rankings (2014/15) |publisher=QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited |accessdate=September 21, 2014 |year=2014}}</ref> 46
Asia
ARWU[33] 16-26
Times[34] 13
QS (Global version)[35]
QS (Regional version)[36]		 7
6

CUHK has been consistently regarded as the best three higher learning institutions in the territory by various university rankings. In particular, it has continuously been the top Hong Kong institution in the ARWU, which is based on awards and research output, including those league tables in 2006, 2010, 2011, and 2013.[37][38][39] HKU Public Opinion Programme survey (2012) gave it the 2nd place.[40] Besides overall rankings, a list of subject rankings of Hong Kong tertiary institutions is available to show the strength of its individual disciplines ranked by the above organisations. The University came 118th in the world by US News & Report.[41] China's Alumni Association placed it among the "6-Star Greater China's Universities" (the highest level) [42] and it was ranked fourth in the Association's 2014 Ranking of Institutions with the Most Best Disciplines in HK, Macau and Taiwan.[43]

CUHK business school was ranked 17th in the Financial Times EMBA rankings,[44] and its MBA programme was placed 27th worldwide in the Global MBA Rankings (2013) and 94th in the Economist's 2012 ranking.[45][46]

Student life

From the upper: University Gymnasium; The Sir Philip Haddon-Cave Sports Field; Lingnan Stadium

School environment

CUHK possesses the largest campus of all higher education institutions in Hong Kong. The hilly 137.3-hectare campus hosts a range of facilities essential for an all-round campus experience, such as libraries, art museums, music halls, a swimming pool, sports fields, tennis courts, squash courts, a water sports centre and gymnasiums.[47]

Collegiate system

As a collegiate university, the school comprises nine colleges that differ in character and history, each retaining substantial autonomy on institutional affairs: Chung Chi College, New Asia College, United College,[48] Shaw College, Morningside College,[49] S. H. Ho College,[50] Lee Woo Sing College, Wu Yee Sun College and C. W. Chu College. All undergraduates are affiliated to one of them.[51]

Colleges are designed as communities with their own hostels, dining halls and other facilities. Students receive pastoral care and whole-person education, including formal and non-formal general education by means of close interaction with teachers and peers, and in some colleges, assemblies and college final year project. Colleges promote extracurricular social and athletic activities with an aim of building camaraderie among students. This focus on 'student orientated teaching', education through both formal teaching and student empowerment, distinguishes CUHK from other universities in the territory.

Transportation

CUHK shuttle bus

Although the campus is located away from the busier districts of Hong Kong, access to the school is easy. The university is served by University Station of the Mass Transit Railway as well as the Hong Kong bus system. Bus and railway stations are located beside Chung Chi College, with additional bus stops just outside the two school entrances on Tai Po Road. To cope with new students from the 3-3-4 education system, the new exit D of University Station opened in September 2012.[52]

A system of minibus routes, operated by the school Transport Unit,[53] runs between the station, academic buildings, and residences. The topography of the campus, as well a layout confusing to newcomers, may deter many from walking around campus. Many buildings on campus incorporate lifts and bridges designed to provide shortcuts in ascending the hill. The latest campus master plan has recognised this strategy as desirable and proposes the development of new walking routes to reduce reliance on the campus bus system.

Notable people

As of 2013, four Nobel Prize winners are associated with the university, including Chen Ning Yang, James Mirrlees, Robert Alexander Mundell and former university President Charles K. Kao.

Other notable faculty members include mathematician Shing-Tung Yau, laureate of the Fields Medal and the Veblen Prize, and computational theorist Andrew Yao, laureate of the Turing Award.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "About CUHK - Mission & Vision, Motto & Emblem". CUHK. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "About CUHK". The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "CUHK History".
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "CAP 1109 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ordinance". CAP 1109 The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ordinance. Department of Justice, HKSAR. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "CUHK Q&A section for mainland students". (8)主修科多以英文授课。 English: The language of instruction of most academic programmes is English.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Distinguished Faculty Members.
  7. ↑ "History". About New Asia. New Asia College. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  8. ↑ Ng, Peter Tze-Ming (2010). Kath Engebretson, ed. International Handbook of Inter-religious Education, Volume 1. Springer. p. 404.
  9. ↑ "Aims and Brief History". Chung Chi College. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Report of the Fulton Commission, 1963: Commission to Advise on the Creation of a Federal-Type Chinese University in Hong Kong". Minerva 1 (4): 493–507. Summer 1963.
  11. ↑ "History and Mission". United College. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  12. ↑ Sweeting, Anthony (2004). Education in Hong Kong, 1941 to 2001: Visions and Revisions. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. pp. 173–75. ISBN 962 209 675 1.
  13. ↑ Bray, Denis (2001). Hong Kong: Metamorphosis. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. p. 168.
  14. ↑ "Campus Master Plan" (PDF). Chinese University of Hong Kong. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  15. ↑ "History of College". Shaw College. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "Chronology". Shaw College. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "中大十大事件選舉揭曉". Alumni Affairs Office (in Chinese). Chinese University of Hong Kong. December 1999. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  18. ↑ Lee, Danny (27 June 2013). "Web hub offers snoopers rich pickings". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Siu, Beatrice (8 June 2010) Goddess posed huge `political risk' to campus, The Standard Retrieved on 8 Jun 2010.
  20. ↑ ""Goddess statue for CUHK campus `at all costs", The Standard Retrieved on 5 June 2010.
  21. ↑ "Students give statue a new home". South China Morning Post
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 'Mary Ma' (8 Jun 2010). Sung rides on Goddess storm", The Standard Retrieved on 8 June 2010.
  23. ↑ Siu, Beatrice (9 Jun 2010) Chairman breaks silence on statue, The Standard Retrieved on 9 June 2010.
  24. ↑ Chong, Tanna (9 Jun 2010) "Students call for clear position on statue". South China Morning Post. Retrieved on 5 June 2010.
  25. ↑ "CUHK Management Chart" (PDF). The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 CUHK Income and Expenditure 2004–2005
  27. ↑
  28. ↑ "Five Focused Areas". The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  29. ↑ Yip, V. and S. Matthews. 2010. Promoting Bilingualism Research in Hong Kong and East Asia: The Childhood Bilingualsm Research Centre. Journal of Chinese Linguistics 38. 2: 396–403.
  30. ↑ "Evolution of the Gate" (PDF). The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  31. ↑ "Academic Ranking of World Universities: Global". Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  32. ↑ "World University Rankings 2014-2015". Times Higher Education. 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Academic Ranking of World Universities: Global". Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Asia University Rankings". Times Higher Education. 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  35. ↑ "QS World University Rankings (extracting Asian universities from the list for counting this position)". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  36. ↑ "QS Asian University Rankings". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  37. ↑ "ARWU 2011". Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  38. ↑ ARWU 2010, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2011, retrieved 15 December 2013
  39. ↑ "ARWU 2006". Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  40. ↑ "The University of Hong Kong Public Opinion Programme (POP) Opinion Survey on the Public Ranking of Universities in Hong Kong".
  41. ↑ "Best Global Universities - Chinese University of Hong Kong". US News and World Report. 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  42. ↑ "2013中国两岸四地最佳大学排行榜揭晓 (2013 Rankings of Greater China's Best Universities Were Out)". China's Alumni Association. Retrieved 2014-01-17.
  43. ↑ "《2014中国大学学科专业评价报告》出炉 (2014 China's University Disciplinary Assessment Was Out)". China's Alumni Association. Retrieved 2014-12-24.
  44. ↑ "Financial Times EMBA Rankings 2012".
  45. ↑ "Financial Times MBA Rankings 2013".
  46. ↑ "The Economist Which MBA? 2012 Full time MBA ranking". The Economist. 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  47. ↑ "Introducing CUHK". The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  48. ↑ United College
  49. ↑ Morningside
  50. ↑ S.H. Ho College
  51. ↑ CUHK College system
  52. ↑ "New Entrance at MTR University Station" (PDF). Press release. MTR Corporation. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
  53. ↑ "Campus Transportation". Transport Unit, Chinese University of Hong Kong. Retrieved 10 March 2014.

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