Higher Education in Hong Kong
Categories: Education, Hong Kong, Lifestyle | Published on November 30, 2012
The global race for top rankings in tertiary education has traditionally been dominated by American universities, with European institutions and their historic grandeur following closely behind. Asian colleges and universities have generally been considered lower-tier, but the region’s economic and geopolitical rise in status has brought gains for local institutions of higher learning.
Long a global economic hub, Hong Kong’s position as part of China (with historic ties to the UK) have made it uniquely placed to offer educational opportunities unparalleled anywhere else in the world. At their best, Hong Kong tertiary educational institutions offer all of the advantages of “eastern” and “western” education, although it might be argued that these geographical distinctions may already be obsolete.
The Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Hong Kong boasts eight institutions of higher learning funded by the university grants committee (UGC). On top of this, several other self-funded and publicly funded universities, non-degree institutions, as well as a campus of the renowned Savannah College of Art and Design are also well established.
Here, we’ll focus on Hong Kong’s UGC funded institutions, which include the most well-known universities:
The Hong Kong Institute of Education is Hong Kong’s higher education institute dedicated to training teachers. The large campus is located within the New Territories district in Tai Po, and boasts some of Hong Kong’s finest sporting grounds for aspiring young athletes and recreational enthusiasts alike. The institute is made up of five separate colleges, the oldest of which, Northcote College of Education, dates back to 1939.
Lingnan University traces its roots back to mainland China. It was founded in 1888 in Guangzhou, and relocated to Hong Kong in 1967 where it now operates out of Tuen Mun, New Territories. The university hosts a curriculum that strongly resembles that of liberal arts colleges in the US and Europe, but with distinctly Asian characteristics. In addition, dormitory, or “hostel” life is also considered an important aspect of education at Lingnan and each residential hall has a distinctive character.
Hong Kong Baptist University in Kowloon is one of the most respected academic institutions in Asia. The university recently created a joint venture with Beijing Normal University in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province known as the United International College, UIC. The University offers a full suite of humanities, business, and science education and boasts prominent scholars in each of these fields.
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, also known as PolyU is Hong Kong’s biggest institution of higher education. Originally located in Wan Chai, the campus is now located in Hung Hom, Kowloon to accommodate for the rapid expansion of the university. PolyU has been rapidly climbing the global university rankings, and was considered the world’s 149th ranked university by the Times Higher Education Supplement – a very notable achievement for an Asian university. PolyU is also famous for its “Big Mouth Corner” – a place for students to practice speaking English.
City University of Hong Kong aka CityU, is a relative newcomer to Hong Kong’s higher education scene, but has quickly developed a strong reputation in the region, ranking 12th in Asia according to Quacquarelli Symonds. CityU is also a top Hong Kong University for athletes, and its top-notch facilities include an Olympic pool, squash courts, an all-weather track and much more. The Kowloon campus is currently undergoing improvement and expansion, and has a strong program for continuing education for professionals.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Clearwater Bay, New Territories is justly famed for its international exchange program, most notably the joint MBA program with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School. HKUST is also very strong in engineering, and students have the option of studying abroad at some of the world’s elite academic institutions. Furthermore, the campus is situated in a rural and greener area of Hong Kong and is right by the sea so students looking out from their residence, or training at the athletics track, are regularly treated to beautiful views.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is located in Ma Liu Shui, New Territories and offers courses taught in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English. CUHK also hosts the Yale-China Chinese Language Center and a museum containing several treasures of ancient Chinese art. CUHK is particularly strong in science, and boasts several Nobel Prize winners among its faculty.
Hong Kong University was founded in 1911 and is currently located in Pokfulam on Hong Kong Island. This prestigious university is widely considered to be Hong Kong’s top institution of higher learning, and even as tops in Asia. Admittance to HKU is highly competitive, and the university is increasingly attracting students from abroad with up to 10 percent of the student body now made up of non-locals.
In general, students from abroad may find the curriculum and culture of Hong Kong’s universities to be quite similar to that of those at home. However, studying in Hong Kong offers a number of distinct advantages, which are tied to the internationalism, lifestyle and growth of this dynamic region.