President Dr HU Fai-Chung: Setting an Exemplar and Journeying with Benevolent Minds

As Hong Kong’s first private university, Shue Yan is also celebrating 20 years of university status this year. As we all know, we have travelled a winding and arduous path to reach the point where
we stand today. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone for accompanying us along the way.

Within Hong Kong’s self-financing higher education sector, Shue Yan has established a comprehensive curriculum system and framework spanning from university preparatory programmes and undergraduate studies to master’s and doctoral programmes. The University is committed to advancing both teaching and research. Currently, four of our scholars have been recognised by Stanford University as being among the top 2 percent of scholars worldwide.

In terms of university rankings, Shue Yan is the first private university in Hong Kong to enter the QS World University Rankings global list, with outstanding performance in the categories of ‘Global Engagement’, ‘Academic reputation’ and ‘Employer Reputation’. In the 2024 Top Universities Subject Rankings, Shue Yan’s Department of Counselling and Psychology ranked 13th nationally in the field of Psychology.

Two years ago, we pioneered Hong Kong’s first ‘International Foundation Year Programme (IFYP)’ for international students. This has not only broadened our student intake but also further extended the ‘Study in Hong Kong’ brand, as well as Shue Yan’s influence and appeal, to new regions—particularly along the Belt and Road route and to other Asian countries.

In terms of curriculum development, the University has in recent years been committed to advancing ‘Digital Humanities and Liberal Arts Education’, utilising big data, virtual reality and information technology to infuse traditional humanities disciplines with new elements. The University is also comprehensively advancing a people-centred artificial intelligence strategy, integrating AI into all aspects of campus life.

The Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation has approved the establishment of Shue Yan University’s fourth faculty this academic year – the Faculty of Communication, Information and Creative Industries. This faculty comprises the long-established Department of Journalism and Communication, as well as the younger Department of Data Science and Digital Innovation, taking
the University’s teaching and research to a new level.

Hong Kong is committed to bringing together talent from all over the world and attracting international students to study here. As a member of Hong Kong’s higher education sector, Hong Kong Shue Yan University has a duty to play an active role in this regard. The Broad of Governors is deeply grateful to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for its support in granting a plot of land of approximately 6,000 square metres at Braemar Hill, enabling us to expand our campus and to name the extension the Hu Hung Lick and Chung Chi Yung Campus.

Furthermore, we are currently establishing a university history museum, with a permanent exhibition showcasing the lifelong dedication of the founders, Dr Henry HU Hung-lick and Dr CHUNG Chi-yung, to advancing the development of higher education in Hong Kong. Also highlighted would be their contributions to social welfare and community development, which spanned Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and afar. Their pioneering journeys, coupled with the university’s development trajectory, would provide a unique perspective to examine the overall evolution of Hong Kong’s higher education system over the past several decades, shedding light on the major challenges, the process of transformation, and the changing social role of the system over time.

Ultimately, what has driven Shue Yan to steadfastly follow the path we believe in all these years is encapsulated in four simple and straightforward words—‘敦仁博物’ (Cultivating of virtues of benevolence; broadening horizon and knowledge)—which are familiar to everyone here today. The greatest truths are the simplest. Put in the most straightforward terms, ‘Cultivating of virtues of benevolence; broadening horizon and knowledge’ means being a good person and a person of value.

The unity of knowledge and action has always been the standard Shue Yan sets for itself. We have all witnessed first-hand how our professors and lecturers lead by example, practising and preaching these principles day in, day out, instilling the four characters ‘敦仁博物’ (Cultivating of virtues of benevolence; broadening horizon and knowledge) in our students until they are deeply ingrained in their hearts and minds, becoming part of the very DNA of the Shue Yan community.

When it comes to choosing a university, I believe that for some students, Shue Yan may not be their first choice. Shue Yan’s founding mission was to provide one more opportunity for motivated young people to become good and useful individuals. Regardless of the reasons for which students enrol, we hope that when they graduate and leave our doors, they will do so feeling fulfilled and ready to face the world with their heads held high. We firmly believe that sound values serve as an anchor for conducting oneself in life, facing personal challenges and navigating the changes of the times. No matter how turbulent and ever-changing the world may be, or what new anxieties the AI era may bring, by steadfastly striving to be a good and useful person, one can live with a clear conscience and stand tall and upright.

We hold a Long Service Awards Ceremony. The award-winning colleagues have made contributions in various respective roles. A total of 105 colleagues are being honoured today, accounting for nearly 15 per cent of all full-time and part-time staff. The colleague with the longest service has been with the University for 39 years. This truly reflects the character of Shue Yan: we are not a large institution, but we are closely knitted, and very much an extended family. We are deeply grateful for their continued dedication to the University, and I would ask you all to give them a warm round of applause when they come on stage.

Five years ago, at our 50th anniversary celebrations, in his address the late founder Dr HU highlighted the ‘Braemar Hill Spirit’ established by Shue Yan, which embodies the following qualities: ceaseless self-improvement and perseverance in moving forward; fostering good relationships to gain support; and adhering to what is right whilst keeping pace with the times. Long live the Braemar Hill Spirit, and may we continue to cultivate benevolence and broaden our knowledge.