The much-anticipated Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare (IOH) opened officially on 8 January 2021, marked by a special ceremony and the presence of HKSAR Chief Executive Mrs Carrie Lam and Hong Kong Jockey Club Chairman Mr Philip Chen. The ceremony was followed by the burial of a time capsule containing significant items contributed by all Schools and Units on 2 February. The time capsule will be unearthed in 25 years' time, for a new generation of university staff and students to enjoy.
The hard work and achievements of the University's staff were celebrated and recognized at a Closing-of-the-Year Party. Awards for outstanding performances in teaching, academic/professional development and research were presented to 17 staff, while 76 received Long Service Awards and nine Retirees' Awards.
Noted Hong Kong writer of fiction Mr Dung Kai-cheung kicked off the University's new Writer-in-Residence scheme as the first appointee. He shared his writing experience with students through a series of literary discussion groups held over several weeks in the Library.
President Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong retired in April after seven years of service to the University. He handed over the reins to Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing, who was officially installed as the sixth President in May.
LiPACE signed an MOU with two Finnish higher education partners, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences and Edunation, in a move that will open up access to the Finnish education system for its students and boost academic exchanges between the two places.
The University's Public and Social Policy Research Centre presented a research study jointly conducted with the Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service on the needs of potential residents of transitional housing supplied by the Government. The research, which involved interviewing residents of subdivided flats to gain a clear idea of their situations and expectations, provides some clear conclusions that will help the Government better tailor its Transitional Housing Scheme for users.
The University's new HKMU logo was unveiled, developed by renowned designer Mr Alan Chan Yau-kin of Alan Chan Design Company. The logo focuses on the letters 'm' and 'u' as symbols for 'me' and 'you', representing the individual and the University's multiple stakeholders, and utilizes heritage colours with a twist to represent both continuity and forward momentum.
The Legislative Council formally approved the new title 'Hong Kong Metropolitan University' for the University, marking the last phase of a retitling process that began in early 2020.
A new partnership was launched between the University and the Unity Academic Alliance, an industry leader in the development of real-time 3D, AR, VR and related technologies. The collaboration, a Hong Kong first for local universities, will involve enhancing the University's Computing and Interactive Entertainment degree programme.
This year's Graduation Show for Creative Arts students presented over 100 art works under the theme 'Recollection of my Rough Edges'. The creative work came from students graduating from five undergraduate degree programmes: Creative Writing and Film Arts, Animation and Visual Effects, Imaging Design and Digital Art, Creative Advertising and Media Design, and Computing and Interactive Entertainment.
LiPACE entered into an MOU with Ocean Park Hong Kong, offering students of its Higher Diploma in Resort and Theme Park Management programme placement and learning opportunities in the theme park.
At its annual Scholarship and Bursary Awards Presentation, the University presented over HK$13 million in financial awards to more than 1,300 students. Another 660-plus students were awarded HK$12 million under the Government's Self-financing Post-secondary Scholarship Scheme. Altogether, over HK$20 million in scholarships were handed out to some 1,200 students, while bursaries amounting to HK$5.7 million benefitted around 720 students.
