HKMU's Proposed New Campus
A Hub for Community Health and Wellness
Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) was approved by the Education Bureau (EDB) on 21 March 2024 to become the first University of Applied Sciences (UAS) in Hong Kong.
In the Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address, the HKSAR Government proposed developing Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education and facilitating the establishment of UASs. The EDB subsequently appointed the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) as a consultant to map out the criteria for qualifying as a UAS, covering aspects such as governance, management, quality assurance, learning environment and learner support, as well as industry collaboration and recognition. Following an Institutional Review by the HKCAAVQ, the University met all the requirements to become a UAS.
UASs will offer applied degree programmes that combine theory and practice and will closely collaborate with professional skills sectors to incorporate substantial internships and work-study opportunities into the curriculum. This will help students develop applied skills and inject momentum into the development of Hong Kong. The development of UASs will upgrade the status of vocational and professional education and training (VPET) to attain qualifications at university degree level, providing an alternative path to success for young people who aspire to pursue a career in professional skills sectors.
The UAS concept is aligned perfectly with HKMU's education model. In response to market trends and industry needs, HKMU has flexibly offered professional programmes that emphasise both theory and practice, such as nursing, physiotherapy, medical laboratory technology, building services engineering, surveying and the creative arts. All these programmes provide students with quality professional education and help them plan and develop their careers. The University has also actively collaborated with industry partners to provide students with diversified learning and pre-employment training opportunities.
Recognised programmes pitched at Levels 5 to 7 under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework
Substantial internships and workplace learning opportunities
Flexible curriculum design, admission and delivery mode
Industry participation in the design, delivery and assessment of programmes
Programmes recognised by industry and the professions
Blend theory with practice
Are industry-driven to equip students for the workplace
Focus on applied research
Offer more internships and practical learning opportunities
Focus on academic teaching and/or research
Emphasise academic achievements and exchanges
Focus on blue skies research
Offer fewer or shorter internships in the workplace
Established by the Hong Kong Government in 1989, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU, formerly The Open University of Hong Kong) is a pioneer of open and distance education in Hong Kong, practicing the educational philosophy of “Education for All” and making quality and flexible further education opportunities to working adults. In 2001, HKMU began offering full-time face-to-face programmes in response to the HKSAR Government's education reform. Over the past three decades, the University has evolved from primarily a distance learning institution to become a comprehensive university that has over 14,000 full-time students (including undergraduate and postgraduate) and about 5,800 part-time / distance learning students. Through nurturing talents to meet our society’s needs, we have made longstanding contributions to the advancement of Hong Kong’s economy.
With the continuous increase in the full-time student population, the University's current campus space and facilities are insufficient to meet the needs of its quality education. In view of this, HKMU proposes to use an abandoned slope land at the corner of Sheung Shing Street and Fat Kwong Street to build a new academic complex of 19 storeys (plus 1 storey of basement carpark). The new building would contain lecture theatres, classrooms, library, learning commons, offices and amenities facilities (such as eating place, sport hall, futsal pitch, integrated health clinic etc.). The additional space would enhance the University's campus infrastructure to achieve its missions of providing quality education and training talents for the Hong Kong economy.
The proposed new campus is located at the corner of Sheung Shing Street and Fat Kwong Street.
The Project with site area of about 3,403 m2 would provide HKMU with an additional gross floor area of around 30,660 m2, which is equivalent to approximately 42% of the existing campus space.
Positioned as “A Hub for Community Health and Wellness”, the new campus would support HKMU's education programmes and activities to promote health and wellness for the whole community.
The new campus will be designed with community-, age- and environmental-friendly elements including eating place, clinic, podium garden, activity spaces and footbridges.
Designed with community-, age- and environmental-friendly elements
Enhanced Public Accessibility with Footbridge Network
In addition, the new campus will introduce additional footbridges and enhanced pathway which will highly facilitate the foot traffic covering the busy areas around Fat Kwong Street and Sheung Shing Street. This improvement and enhanced provision could provide much convenience to the community and nearby people for uplifted accessibility and safety.
Enhance teaching and learning facilities to nurture talents for the development of Hong Kong
Enhance training capacity of healthcare professionals to serve the ageing population
Organise educational programmes and activities to promote community health and wellness
Build a convenient footbridge walkway to enhance public accessibility and reduce the flow of pedestrians on the road to improve road safety
Provide diversified facilities to uplift the physical and mental health of students and the community
Preserve the biggest tree and plant new trees to maintain green environment
