Media

HKU welcomes the public at its Information Day and Open Day

27 Oct 2007

 

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) campus is open to the public this weekend (October 27 - 28) during its Information Day and Open Day.

HKU Vice-Chancellor Professor Lap-Chee Tsui launched the two-day event with the theme "The World University / The University World" today (October 27). Professor Tsui and Professor John Spinks, Senior Advisor to Vice-Chancellor, in the presence of senior management members and various Deans, led a Dragon Dance performed by over 30 HKU local, Mainland and international students at the Sun Yat-sen Place.

Professor Tsui said the energetic Dragon Dance performance, which symbolized "dignity" and "wisdom", also vividly demonstrated the internationalized "University World" of HKU. Being a global university, HKU has a very culturally diverse population on campus -- nearly 3,000 international students from 58 countries and more than half of the over 2,000 academics are of non-local origin. It also has student exchange programmes with over 180 partner institutions in 25 countries worldwide.

Throughout both days, members of the public, particularly teachers and students of secondary schools and parents, are welcome to come to HKU to learn more about various programmes it offers, to visit the facilities and hostels of the university, and to have a taste of various aspects of university life. There are also a great variety of interesting talks, exhibitions, demonstrations and interactive hands-on activities in different academic disciplines.

Today's opening ceremony was followed by admission talks for local Form 6 students and Mainlanders hosted by Professor John Spinks, Chairman of the University Admissions Committee; Mr Henry Wai, Registrar; and Ms Isabella Wong, Director of China Affairs. Professor Cheng Kai-Ming, Senior Advisor to Vice-Chancellor, and Dr Albert Chau, Dean of Student Affairs, also shared with parents the likely challenges faced by their children in university.

During the two days, various faculties and departments have organised recruitment talks and sharing sessions featuring graduates and current students, to enable prospective students to better understand the different programmes and the related career prospects.

Guided tours of the Telescope Dome, various student residential halls, laboratories, and teaching and learning facilities operating around the clock will also enable the public to have a taste of university and hall life. 

To increase public interest towards technology developments, a number of interactive hands-on activities will be available, such as driving quay crane simulator and aircraft jet engine, controlling robots, building timber bridges and combating computer crimes. There are also demonstrations and exhibitions of the latest technologies and research findings in various disciplines.

Visitors to HKU's Open Day can also visit the Eileen Chang: Hong Kong Legend (1939-1941) Exhibition at the HKU Main Library without prior registration. Starting from today (October 27), new exhibits of the acclaimed Chinese writer have also been added. The exhibition received overwhelming response, having attracted nearly 5,000 visitors within the first 9 days, and will therefore be extended to November 4, Sunday. 

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Denise Wong, Manager (Media) (Tel: 2859 2600 / E-mail: denise.wong@hku.hk )