Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) held the “Honouring Support & Achievement – Donor-Recipient Gathering 2024/25” today (26 June) to express its heartfelt gratitude to donors, bringing together nearly 200 donors, corporate representatives, beneficiary students and University management. Thanks to generous support from all sectors of the community, HKMU received almost HK$50 million in scholarship and bursary donations this academic year, benefiting over 2,600 students. This was a record high for both the amount and the number of beneficiaries.

Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing, HKMU President, expressed his sincere appreciation to donors and the Government for their staunch support, emphasising that the University's rapid development in recent years has been made possible thanks to the dedication and donations from various stakeholders. He also highlighted HKMU's debut in the QS World University Rankings, where it was ranked in the 781–790 range. As Hong Kong's first self-financing university and the first university of applied sciences (UAS) to achieve this milestone, HKMU's recognition reflects its commitment to maintaining international standards in teaching, research and faculty quality.

“We will make good use of every donation,” said Prof. Lam. “They not only alleviate the financial burdens on students but also help provide them with diverse learning and development opportunities, allowing them to actively engage in campus life and realise their 'infinite potential'. This support is vital for advancing education.”

This academic year, over 1,800 students were awarded scholarships totalling HK$43 million. Among them, 1,118 full-time students received a total of HK$19.1 million from the Government's Self-financing Post-secondary Scholarship Scheme, marking a new record for HKMU. In addition to scholarships, bursaries exceeding HK$6.5 million were distributed to over 800 students this year.

Prof. Lam highlighted a significant increase in bursary support for persons in custody, which rose by nearly 37% to HK$2.41 million this year. He expressed hope that society would continue to support the University in providing resources and assistance to help these students complete their studies, thereby facilitating their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Prof. Ricky Kwok Yu-kwong, HKMU Vice President (Research and Institutional Advancement), encouraged students to remember the generosity of donors and the support they have received from the University as they embark on their careers. He urged them to give back to society and contribute to Hong Kong's development, upholding the spirit of philanthropy and paying it forward.

The gathering featured a fireside chat with donor Mr Terence Yu, Managing Director of Pro-Med Technology Limited, and two student recipients of the “HSBC Greater Bay Area (Hong Kong) Scholarship”. Mr Yu, who established the “Ekso Pro-Med Scholarship”, shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey and encouraged students to push their boundaries, seize opportunities and pursue their dreams.

Chloe Lam Hei-tung, a Year 4 student in the Bachelor of Nursing with Honours in General Health Care, spoke about how her nursing studies and clinical placements have deepened her understanding of the healthcare industry and sparked her interest in healthcare policy and smart data management. An experience seeking medical treatment during her trip to Zhongshan made her realise the importance of an efficient medical system. With more of Hong Kong's elderly choosing to live in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), she believes that establishing an efficient medical record-sharing system across GBA cities would ensure the secure sharing of health records and improve service efficiency. She hopes to turn these ideas into reality and plans to use her scholarship to participate in professional training and international exchanges to enhance her clinical skills and contribute to promoting health awareness and preventive medicine.

Veronica Liu Tsam-yi, a Year 2 student in the Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in Professional Accounting, is already the co-founder of two medical technology start-ups. She has actively participated in start-up competitions in Hong Kong and the Mainland, with the goal of joining incubation programmes of the Hong Kong Science Park, Cyberport and the Qianhai zone in Shenzhen to drive her companies' growth in the GBA and overseas. As an accounting student, Veronica seeks to deepen her professional expertise through a banking internship and apply her accounting knowledge to manage financial risks for companies. She also looks forward to gaining insights into entrepreneurship and technological development through interactions with her fellow scholarship recipients.

Thanks to the generous support of donors, HKMU established three new scholarships this academic year: the “China Resources Corporate Governance Scholarship” (details) and two HKMU Admission Scholarships. HKMU will continue its emphasis on holistic education, providing comprehensive support to students through diversified funding schemes and campus development to help them achieve excellence in their academic, professional and personal growth.