Tung Wah College (TWC) celebrated its 15th anniversary this year. Since the beginning of this year, TWC has organised a series of anniversary events to reflect on its developments and remarkable achievements over the past fifteen years. The grand celebration, the 15th Anniversary Gala Dinner, was held last Thursday (20 November) at the Harbour Grand Kowloon. Nearly 300 guests, including government officials, community leaders, donors, industry partners, faculty, students, and alumni, gathered to celebrate the College’s 15 years of outstanding accomplishments.
Dr. the Hon. Choi Yuk-lin, JP, Secretary for Education and the Guest of Honour of the Dinner, delivered a speech, “In recent years, TWC has actively fostered industry-institution collaboration, alignment of classroom education with industry needs, and collaboration between businesses and education institutions. It has also deepened exchanges and cooperation with institutions in the Chinese mainland and overseas through diverse channels, achieving remarkable results. The government remains committed to supporting the steady development of the self-financing post-secondary education sector and will strengthen its support for the self-financing institutions in expanding capacity and enhancing quality. By leveraging their flexibility and diversity, these institutions will complement publicly-funded institutions in advancing Hong Kong as an international hub for post-secondary education.”
Nurturing Professionals to Uphold the Spirit of Compassionate Care
In his welcoming speech, Mr. Orlando Ho Yau Kai, Chairman of Board of Governors, highlighted that TWC has laid a solid foundation in healthcare and nursing tertiary education, continuing the legacy of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (TWGHs). Mr. Ho emphasised that TWC actively responds to the pressing demand in society for diverse talents, developing programmes in tandem with the times, increasingly diverse, and spanning the entire spectrum of human life from early childhood education to gerontology. From healthcare services to sustainable development, the programme’s focus extends beyond individual health to the overall well-being of society.
Mr. Ho also commended TWC’s faculty and students for actively addressing current social challenges, initiating translational researches, and taking a proactive approach to tackle societal issues. These endeavours exemplify the spirit of serving the community, in line with the theme of the TWGHs’ 155th anniversary, “Kindness makes a Difference.”
Advancing Applied Sciences Education to Meet Societal Needs
Mr. York Tseng Hing Yip, Chairman of College Council, expressed in his speech that TWC, as the first self-financing tertiary institution in Hong Kong to offer five professionally accredited allied health and nursing programmes, has not only expanded its programme offerings, but has also set new benchmarks in self-financing education, earning widespread recognition from various professional bodies. Mr. Tseng added, “We celebrate the achievements that have established TWC as a pioneer in applied science education in Hong Kong.”
A New Journey Towards University Status, Co-building an International Education Hub
Professor Sally Chan, President of TWC, said, “I am proud of leading the team over the past five years to advance the College’s mission, steadily strengthening our position in the self-financing post-secondary education sector and in vocational and professional education and training. Progressing towards becoming a quality private university and a University of Applied Sciences (UAS), we are strengthening our role in establishing Hong Kong as an international education hub. Through impactful translational research, we aim to advance education and healthcare both locally and internationally.”
Professor Chan also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the TWGHs Board of Directors for their unwavering support; the Hong Kong SAR Government for its steadfast trust and support over the years; past and present members of the Board of Governors and College Council for their guidance; and all staff, students, alumni, partners, and donors for their contributions to the College’s progress. Looking ahead, Professor Chan expressed her full confidence in TWC’s future developments. She aspires to lead the College as a UAS that is “rooted in Hong Kong and embracing the world.”
Thanks to the collective dedication of the TWC family, the College has made significant strides in programme development, academic research, and campus expansion over the past 15 years. To commemorate this milestone, TWC also presented the Long Service Award to nine staff members who have served the College since its founding, recognising their exceptional contributions.
TWC is preparing its new Five-Year Strategic Plan to outline an ambitious blueprint for a visionary path towards becoming a university. Moving forward, TWC remains steadfast in its mission to nurture outstanding talents for society, and collaborate with all stakeholders to scale new heights in the years to come.