City University of Hong Kong

Location: Hong Kong The City University of Hong Kong climbs two places in the QS University Rankings: Asia this year, while ranking 108th in the overall world rankings. While only having received full university accreditation in 1984, the City University of Hong Kong has fast become highly reputed, with a current student base of almost 14,000 undergraduate and 5,000 postgraduate students. Of the 23 subjects the City University of Hong Kong is internationally ranked for, it places highest within the global top 50 for architecture, business & management, civil & structural engineering, electrical & electronic engineering, linguistics and mathematics.

City University's origins lie in the calls for a "second polytechnic" in the years following the 1972 establishment of the Hong Kong Polytechnic. In 1982, Executive Council member Chung Sze-yuen spoke of a general consensus that "a second polytechnic of similar size to the first should be built as soon as possible."[4] District administrators from Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan lobbied the government to build the new institution in their respective new towns.[4] The government instead purchased temporary premises at the new Argyle Centre Tower II in Mong Kok, a property developed by the Mass Transit Railway Corporation in concert with the then-Argyle Station. The new school was called City Polytechnic of Hong Kong, a name chosen among nearly 300 suggestions made by members of the public.[5] The new polytechnic opened on 8 October 1984, welcoming 480 full-time and 680 part-time students.[6] Founding director Dr. David Johns stated that the unique modular structure of the coursework offered "absolute parity of academic standards between full-time and part time students" and that provision for part-time students contributed to a huge demand for student places, with the quota being filled almost immediately.[6] The polytechnic's planning committee sought to accommodate a student population of 8,000 by the end of the 1980s, and construction of the permanent campus in nearby Kowloon Tong began shortly thereafter.[7] The architectural contract to design the new campus was won by Percy Thomas Partnership in association with Alan Fitch and W.N. Chung.[8] It was originally slated to open by October 1988.[9] The first phase was officially opened by Governor Wilson on 15 January 1990, and boasted 14 lecture theatres and 1,500 computers.[10] By 1991, the school had over 8,000 full-time students and approximately 3,000 part-time students.[11] The second phase of the permanent campus opened 1993.[8] The school achieved university status in 1994 and the name was changed accordingly.[12] Campus[edit] City University of Hong Kong is located on Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon. It is near the MTR Kowloon Tong Station of the East Rail Line and Kwun Tong Line, Shek Kip Mei Park, Nam Shan Estate and the Festival Walk shopping centre. The main campus covers around 15.6 hectares. Principal buildings include Academic 1, Academic 2, Academic 3, Amenities Building, Mong Man-wai Building, Fong Yun-wah Building, Cheng Yick-chi Building, Academic Exchange Building, To Yuen Building, Hu Fa Kuang Sports Centre, two senior staff quarters (Nam Shan Yuen, Tak Chee Yuen), Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre and the student residential halls. Academic 1[edit] The original buildings for CityU comprising Academic 1 were designed by Percy Thomas Partnership with Fitch and Chung, who won an international design competition. The first phase of construction was completed in 1990 and the second phase (increasing capacity to 20,000 students) in 1993. The total floor area is about 63,000 m², including 116 laboratories, 18 lecture halls, classrooms, as well as school canteens. The buildings had to be low-rise because of airport height restrictions.[13] The school colours are drawn from the interior colours of the first phase of Academic 1. Academic 2[edit] Opened in 2011, Academic 2 is a combined academic, administrative and amenities building covering 20,900m2, located near the Amenities Building and Hu Fa Kuang Sports Centre. It is a 9-storey building comprising 12 lecture theatres, 45 classrooms, 11 computer rooms, a canteen with a capacity of 800, staff offices, a number of multi-function rooms, and plenty of learning resources and common areas. Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre (CMC)[edit] In November 2010 the new Creative Media Centre was completed, designed by Studio Daniel Libeskind with Leigh & Orange Architects. The distinctive design includes a range of spaces, lighting and materials to inspire students, faculty, and staff. The building was designed to house the School of Creative Media, the Centre for Media Technology and the Department of Computer Engineering and Information Technology.[14] The building was also selected by CNN as one of the world's 10 most spectacular university buildings.[15] Academic 3[edit] Academic 3 is a new combined academic, amenities, and administrative building with 20,500m2 of net operational area which consists of facilities such as classrooms, lecture theatres (including one holding up to 600 people), teaching and research laboratories, multi-function rooms, a canteen, common areas, administrative offices and a roof garden. The 12-storey building was built in light of the student influx anticipated to result from the 334 Scheme. The designer and architect for Academic 3 was Ronald Lu and Partners.[16][17] Student Residence[edit] The Student Residence Office provides on-campus accommodation for almost 3,700 students. The student residence at Cornwall Street comprises 11 residential halls, 10 for undergraduate and 1 for postgraduate students, namely Jockey Club Humanity Hall, HSBC Prosperity Hall, Alumni Civility Hall, Jockey Club Academy Hall, Chan Sui Kau Hall, Lee Shau Kee Hall, Jockey Club Harmony Hall, Hall 8 (postgraduate hall), Sir Gordon and Lady Ivy Wu Hall, Hall 10 and Hall 11.[18] The residence association organises activities for hall residence. Governance[edit] The Council comprises 23 university members. The chief executive of Hong Kong has the power to appoint 15 of the 23 council members, seven of which are named directly and eight appointed upon recommendation of the council. The chief executive can also appoint the chairman, deputy and treasurer.; the vice-chancellor is in turn appointed by the council.[19] Academic organisations[edit] Colleges and schools[edit] The three colleges: Business, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Science and Engineering, and the School of Law and School of Creative Media offer bachelor's degrees and postgraduate programmes. The School of Energy and Environment currently offers postgraduate degree programmes and the new School of Veterinary Medicine is now in operation. The Division of Building Science and Technology and the Community College of City University (CCCU) runs government-funded and self-funded associate degree programmes respectively. The School of Continuing and Professional Education (SCOPE) helps fulfil the University's role as a centre for lifelong education by providing continuing educational opportunities for the community through diplomas, certificate and short programmes. The overall academic organisation structure is set out below: