Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) places great importance on actively building a diverse and inclusive community, which respects and supports every staff member and student, regardless of background. To further advance this commitment, the University introduced several new facilities on campus this academic year, dedicated to building a more friendly and harmonious environment that promotes the values of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Prof. Charles Kwong Che-leung, HKMU Vice President (Administration and Corporate Development), said, “The University always pays close attention and actively responds to the specific needs of different groups by providing the campus facilities and support that best meet their needs. At the start of this new academic year, we further enhanced various campus facilities related to living, catering and learning. The University will continue to review the needs of our community and improve the campus facilities to create a vibrant and diverse cultural environment and put the values of diversity and inclusion into practice.”
Providing diverse catering options
With the growing number of staff and students from around the globe, the HKMU campus will be enriched with more diverse cultures, promoting cross-cultural interaction and fostering an international learning environment. Starting this academic year, a Halal-certified restaurant is operating on the HKMU campus for the first time, providing dining options that comply with Islamic dietary laws for staff and students. This addition complements the existing Chinese, Western, Japanese and vegetarian cuisines in other restaurants on campus, offering a wider variety of meal options for the University community.
Located in the Cheng Yu Tung Building (Block A) on the Main Campus, the Halal restaurant strictly adheres to Islamic cooking standards: all ingredients are free from pork or pork by-products, and the meat comes from animals slaughtered according to Islamic practices.
From ingredient sourcing to food products, the restaurant's operations are strictly inspected. The restaurant was awarded the Halal Certificate by The Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong. The restaurant currently offers a wide variety of dishes featuring lamb, chicken, fish and vegetarian options, including kebabs, salads and pizzas.
Building bridges through language education
Language serves as a bridge for communication, opening a window for dialogue. To help students from various countries and cultural backgrounds overcome language barriers, the HKMU Language Centre, under the School of Education and Languages, is dedicated to enhancing students' communication and literacy skills. In addition to English, the Centre offers an array of foreign language classes, including Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, French, Korean, Spanish and German, fostering a global mindset and closer connections among students.
Now located on the fourth floor of the Cheng Yu Tung Building (Block A), the Language Centre has been redesigned and renovated to provide a more spacious and dynamic learning environment. The Centre's capacity has more than doubled, enabling it to accommodate over 40 students in classes. Additionally, small individual rooms facilitate one-on-one, face-to-face or online sessions for student language consultations with tutors.
The Language Centre supports students through a range of language-learning activities, including regular workshops, individual consultations, discussion groups, IELTS training, and engaging activities such as Board Game Day, Movie Day and a Book Club. The Centre also provides rich and diverse online learning resources designed to comprehensively enhance students' language proficiency.
Introducing unisex toilets
HKMU recently introduced unisex toilets on campus to flexibly accommodate individuals of all genders and those with disabilities. Three well-equipped unisex toilets are now available on the Main Campus (MC), the Jockey Club Campus (JCC) and the Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare campus (IOH).
The introduction of unisex toilets helps promote awareness of diversity and inclusion while fostering greater understanding and respect for the needs of all individuals within the University community.
Additionally, the campus features Quiet Rooms on the ninth floor of the Kwok Tak Seng Building (Block C) for staff and students of various religions, providing spaces for prayer or meditation at their convenience. The Student Affairs Office also offers appropriate learning support and services for students with Special Educational Needs (SENs). The University is dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive campus to ensure that all members of the HKMU community can enjoy a supportive and enriching campus life.