Hong Kong Baptist University

Updated on Nov 30, 2023

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Motto in English Light and truth President Roland Chin Phone +852 3411 7400 Color Blue Founded 1956		Type Public Address Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong Total enrollment 8,266 (2010) Motto 篤信力行 (Light and truth)

Established 1956 (as Hong Kong Baptist College) 1994 (granted full university status) Chancellor Chief Executive of Hong Kong (Current officeholder: Leung Chun-ying) Vice-president Franklin Luk (Academic) Rick Wong (Research & Development) Albert Chau (Teaching & Learning) Andy Lee (Administration) Undergraduate tuition and fees 42,100 HKD (2011), International tuition: 100,000 HKD (2011) Notable alumni March Tian Boedihardjo, Kam Nai‑wai, Sire Ma, Wong Yeung‑tat, Fernando Cheung Similar City University of Hong K, Chinese University of Hong K, The University of Hong K, Hong Kong University of Scienc, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Profiles Facebook YouTube Instagram Google+

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) (Chinese: 香港浸會大學) is a publicly funded tertiary institution with a Christian education heritage.

It was established as Hong Kong Baptist College with the support of American Baptists, who provided both operating and construction funds and personnel to the school in its early years.

It became Hong Kong Baptist University in 1994 during the presidency of Dr. Daniel Tse Chi-wai, LLD, GBS, CBE, JP, who succeeded the Founding President, Dr. Lam Chi-fung, as the second president of the University in 1971. After 30 years of services to the University, Dr. Daniel Tse Chi-wai retired in 2001 and Prof. Ng Ching-fai, GBS, was appointed as the third president of the University. In 2010, Prof. Albert Chan Sun-chi assumed office as the fourth president of HKBU.

HKBU has five main campuses: Ho Sin Hang Campus (1966), Shaw Campus (1995), Baptist University Road Campus (1998), "Kai Tak Campus" (2005), and Shek Mun Campus (2006) for the College of International Education and the Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School. The first three campuses are located in the urban heart of Kowloon Tong, while the Kai Tak Campus is on Kwun Tong Road and the Shek Mun Campus in Sha Tin.

In 2005, the University established the Beijing Normal University - Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC) in Zhuhai, China. The College was the first tertiary education institution founded through collaboration between a Mainland university and a Hong Kong university. It sets a new model for liberal education in China, aiming to nurture graduates with an international perspective.

Emblem

The emblem of Hong Kong Baptist University consists of three pictorial elements: the Bible, waves and knots. The Bible symbolizes the unique quality of Christian education which includes moral and spiritual training in addition to academic education. The waves, on the other hand, symbolize both Hong Kong's geographic nature as an island while echoing Confucius' dictum that "the wise love water" and the University's continuing effort to improve its educational quality. The knots, the final symbol, illustrate that within God's embrace, Christians are harmoniously linked and loved.

Logo

The logo, embodying a book and water motifs, was adopted after the institution was granted its university status in 1994. The acronym "BU" coupled with the outlined book on the logo resembles the Chinese characters of welcome (迎) and progress (進), conceptualizing the merging of eastern and western cultures. The design of the logo was commended at a design competition held in October 1996. The Hong Kong Designers Association awarded a Certificate of Merit at the Design 96 Show to Kan & Lau Design Consultants for creating the logo.

Governance

Prior to Hong Kong's handover, the colony's Governor is the de jure chancellor of the university. That role was assumed by the city's Chief Executive following the handover.

The Chief Executive's role as the university's Chancellor is enshrined in the Hong Kong Baptist University Ordinance.

For a list of pre and post-handover university chancellors, refer to the articles for the Governor of Hong Kong and the Chief Executive of Hong Kong.

Rankings

According to Times Higher Education World University Rankings, HKBU was ranked 45th of Top 50 Universities of Asia in 2015. HKBU was also ranked 318th of the Top Universities in the World by QS World University Rankings in 2014-2015 and 57th of the QS University "50 under 50" by QS World University Rankings in 2014-2015 and 51st for Asian Universities QS World University Rankings in 2014-2015.

Computer Science and Mathematics of HKBU was ranked 151-200th in the subject fields ranking among the world by Academic Ranking of World Universities in 2013.

The Hong Kong government Research Assessment Exercise gave the Geography Department the highest ranking of all Hong Kong Geography Departments, in terms of its research, with 12% of research output considered "world leading" and 31% "international excellent".

The School of Communication is famous, Department of Journalism under the School was ranked by Asian Correspondent as Top 10 Journalism School for Asian Students. Columbia University was also on the list.

Academic Community Hall

The Academic Community Hall (AC Hall) is an auditorium located in the university. It was opened in May, 1978 with a seating capacity of 1,346. Originally, the first President and co-founder of the University, Dr. Lam Chi-fung, conceived the idea of building a hall for University functions. In 1970, on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary, Dr. and Mrs. Lam donated half a million dollars towards the construction of the auditorium. A local architect, Eric Cumine, took charge of the project. However, Dr. Lam died the following year before the project got underway. The Board of Governors decided to honour Dr. Lam by expanding the planned auditorium into a much larger scale project - the development of the Lam Chi-fung Memorial Building. As a part of the project, the Academic Community Hall would serve as a cultural centre for the University and its surrounding community, thus providing a direct link between town and gown.

Communication and Visual Art Building

The Communication and Visual Art Building is located in 5 Hereford Road, Kowloon Tong. The building is built for the School of Communication and Academy of Visual Arts.

Library

The Hong Kong Baptist University Library is made up by a Main Library and a number of branches. The Main Library is located in Au Shue Hung Memorial Library Building and has a gross floor area of 6,900 m² with a seating capacity of about 850. The library is fully automated with integrated library systems and house a comprehensive collection of Chinese and Western books, periodicals, non-print materials and newspaper clippings. Of particular importance are the Archives on the History of Christianity in China and the Contemporary China Research Collection, as well as a lantern slide and glass plate negative collection entitled "China Through The Eyes of CIM Missionaries."

Dr. Stephen Riady Chinese Medicine Library is located on the second floor of the Jockey Club of School of Chinese Medicine Building. It aims to meet the growing demand in the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong. The European Documentation Centre is located in the Academic and Administrative Building and is open to the public. It provides an important study and research base for European Studies. The Shek Mun Campus Library is a branch of the Hong Kong Baptist University Library. It is established to provide quality information resources and services in support of teaching and learning activities of the College of International Education in Shek Mun Campus.

After investigation, the library decided to abandon the practice of binding the majority of its western language periodical collection from 2007 onwards, substituting it with magazine boxes and possibly shrink wrapping.

Students' residences

The Student Residence Halls of HKBU are located at the Baptist University Road campus:

Chen-Ning Yang Hall (楊振寧堂)

Shu-Ren Zhou Hall (周樹人堂)

Yuan-Pei Cai Hall (蔡元培堂)

Ching-Ling Soong Hall (宋慶齡堂)

The College of International Education

The College of International Education (CIE), which is under the School of continuing Education, offers programmes from certificates, higher diplomas, professional diplomas, associate degrees, undergraduate and higher degrees for over 6,300 full-time students and 8,200 part-time students to have the opportunities to peruse further study. CIE has their academic activities mainly in the new Shek Mum Campus (8 On Muk Street, Shek Mum, Shatin). The rest of the academic activities are based in Madam Chan Wu Wan Kwai School of Continuing Education Tower on campus, and acquired a 48,000 sq. ft. office in Franki Centre, Kowloon Tong.