HKMU's academic credentials have been further strengthened in the year, as it has expanded its programmes into new fields and industry sectors, increased its range of industry collaborations, and most significantly, emerged as Hong Kong's first university of applied sciences (UAS). These initiatives have boosted HKMU's reputation as a trusted provider of professional programmes with a focus on application that are directly relevant to the needs of our society.
HKMU was designated by the Government as Hong Kong's first UAS in March 2024. As a pioneer in this area, HKMU has been entrusted as the secretariat of the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences to support its formation and operation. The Government has allocated a startup fund of HK$100 million to establish the Alliance and promote initiatives to develop UASs and enhance the status of vocational and professional education and training in Hong Kong. HKMU is committed to its new role and will work closely with the Alliance to facilitate UAS development and foster exchanges and collaborations with UASs on the mainland and overseas.
The second round of the Government's Pilot Project on the Development of Applied Degree Programmes, an initiative to increase the number and quality of practical vocational-based programmes in Hong Kong's university system, brought more good news for HKMU. Our Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours (BBA (Hons)) in Sports and Recreation Management was selected for inclusion in the Pilot Project, marking the second consecutive year in which an HKMU programme has been included.
HKMU's first major industry collaboration upon becoming a UAS involved the enrichment of a programme for the aviation industry: the introduction of a new Cadet Pilot concentration to the BBA (Hons) in Aviation Services Management. Building on our existing partnership with the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy (HKIAA), the new concentration offers students the opportunity to obtain a Commercial Pilot Licence in addition to their BBA degree at HKMU. Students opting for this concentration will receive theoretical aviation knowledge instruction at HKIAA's campus in Hong Kong and undergo flying training in the United States.
Another UAS initiative has seen HKMU collaborating with the Construction Industrial Council to launch a Master of Applied Science / Master of Science in Intelligent Construction and Building Information Modelling. These new programmes incorporate the latest Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology, which is driving major digital transformation in the fields of architecture, engineering, and construction.
These are only the beginning of many more planned industry collaborations. Discussions are currently in progress with other industry partners such as BGI College, an educational institute founded by genome research organisation BGI Group, on joint programmes in areas such as medical bioinformatics, applied health informatics and biotechnology, and with the Asian Gemmological Institute and Laboratory on gemmological education.
HKMU's Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physiotherapy programme was launched in 2020. This year it received official accreditation from the Physiotherapists Board of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council, in a timely move that coincided with the first cohort of programme graduates entering the workforce in 2024. The accreditation means our new physiotherapy graduates are fully qualified to practise as registered physiotherapists in Hong Kong, and can move directly from their training to the workplace to meet the strong demand for healthcare professionals in the city.
In September 2023, healthcare academics at HKMU teamed up with their counterparts from Saint Francis University (the then Caritas Institute of Higher Education) and Tung Wah College on a unique collaborative endeavour, having secured a grant of HK$7.97 million from the Government's Quality Enhancement Support Scheme. The collaboration involves developing a VR simulation teaching game that will give nursing and physiotherapy students exposure to simulated clinical situations, and enhance the interprofessional communication skills of the undergraduate students being trained at the three institutions.
The future of our industry collaboration looks very bright, after HKMU signed a number of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with industry partners during the year. These will form the basis for collaborative work in developing new programmes, setting up student internship opportunities, and engaging in joint research.
The HKMU Library has continued to expand its collections and range of services to facilitate learning, teaching and research. In addition to the further strengthened HKMU library collection, HKMU staff and students can now access the collections of over 600 partner libraries worldwide through Rapido, an interlibrary loan platform launched on the HKMU e-Library system in April 2024.
In terms of physical infrastructure, the Active Learning Space in the Stanley Ho Library has been revamped with advanced audio-visual equipment, flexible furniture and enhanced technological capabilities, providing a modern, adaptable environment for collaborative work. For students interested in exploring their creativity and crafting innovative objects, a 3D printing service known as Makerspace@Library was introduced in February 2024.
HKMU has always looked to be at the forefront of technological progress, utilising advanced tools to enhance its educational outcomes. In response to the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (AI), the University launched its own ChatGPT portal based on the GPT-4 model in August 2023, designed to boost efficiency across the board in teaching, learning, research and university operations for staff and students.
ChatGPT technology has also been incorporated into three AI-powered knowledge base service chatbots launched by the University in support of the Library, the Information Technology Office and the School of Open Learning. The chatbots are providing 24/7 interactive enquiry services for students and visitors, in the process freeing up staff time for more complex tasks and enhancing overall operational efficiency.
The University also recently established the University Data Warehouse, a technological initiative designed to enhance the efficiency of university operations by facilitating data-driven decision making. This is a central data repository that provides a single source of data relating to student administration, human resources, financials, student engagement and students' learning progress. It also acts as a secure analytical platform, enabling stakeholders to access and analyse its data from various systems and business domains.
