Quality Manual – Chapter 1

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a self-governing institution founded in 1963 through incorporating, by Ordinance, three existing Colleges: New Asia, Chung Chi, and United (founded in 1949, 1951, and 1956 respectively). The introduction of the CUHK Ordinance in 1976 led to further streamlining of the University’s operating structure. A fourth constituent College, Shaw College, was founded in 1986. To cater for the new four-year undergraduate (Ug) curriculum introduced in 2012, five more Colleges were established: Morningside, S.H. Ho (both in 2006), C.W. Chu, Wu Yee Sun, and Lee Woo Sing (all in 2007), adding to a total of nine constituent Colleges in the University.

The University’s mission is to assist in the preservation, creation, application and dissemination of knowledge by teaching, research and public service in a comprehensive range of disciplines, thereby serving the needs, and enhancing the well-being, of the citizens of Hong Kong, China as a whole, and the wider world community.

The University’s vision is to be acknowledged locally, nationally, and internationally as a first-class comprehensive research university, whose bilingual and multicultural dimensions of student education, scholarly output and contribution to the community consistently meet standards of excellence. The University’s Strategic Plan¹ spells out its long-term goals and strategies.

Established in 1965 at first known as the Department of Extramural Studies, the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUSCS) bears the mission of providing quality continuing professional education programmes and services to meet the changing needs of society.

The eighties in the last century marked a beginning of rapid economic development of Hong Kong. In pursuit of self-enrichment and career advancement in a vibrant human resources market, professional and continuing education programmes offered by the University were very much sought after. Academic and research units gradually played a role in the offering of quality programmes.

“Diversity and Flexibility” of tertiary education is a key message for education in the Policy Address 2000, which also states an objective that “within ten years, 60% of our senior secondary school leavers will receive tertiary education”. In support of this Government’s initiative, full-time sub-degree programmes were introduced by the University through the CUSCS and the then community college.

As the Government’s target has been exceedingly fulfilled, the University takes action to consolidate the portfolio of offerings with a framework that supports the long-term development of the Sub-degree, Professional and Continuing Education Programmes (SPCEPs).

Pursuant to the official release of CUHK Strategic Plan 2016-2020 in the spring of 2016, the Strategic Goal Statements for SPCEPs with close reference to the strategic theme of “Education” were deliberated and adopted in 2017.

The provision of top-notch programmes for professionals, thereby serving the needs of the community while maintaining a robust Quality Assurance (QA) mechanism and network with professional bodies has been the strategic goal of SPCEPs. The education provider/programme offering units should pursue the following objectives in mind:

1. Programmes in alignment with CUHK Strategic Plan 2016-2020.
2. Due recognition by external QA benchmarks (e.g. Hong Kong Qualifications Framework² (HKQF)), QA and professional bodies in order to make contributions to the SPCEP sector, relevant industries and Hong Kong society as a responsible education provider.
3. Continuous enhancement of learner-centred quality programmes underpinned by a robust QA mechanism that provides students with positive learning experience to serve the professional development of learners and participants.

One of the goals for “Education” is to “expand CUHK’s leading role and positive impact on the professions and industry as well as the larger community through high-quality SPCEPs”.

To meet the challenges of tomorrow, it is an opportune time for the education provider/programme offering units to plan or review their programme offerings in alignment with CUHK 2025, in addition to the Strategic Goal Statements of SPCEPs.