Media

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has launched the Academy for the Talented, a new programme targeted at the academically talented Secondary Five students. The programme aims to provide an opportunity for the students to become involved with HKU campus life before graduating from secondary school. Students will have a chance to be mentored by professors, join field trips, undergo leadership training and learn from the exchange with students from world-renowned universities. They may also enrol in credit-bearing courses. 

In the first cohort, 121 students recommended by principals from 27 secondary schools have been admitted to the Academy. In the coming year, they may enrol in a number of academic and enrichment courses, including lectures with seminars delivered by special guests, service learning, leadership training, mentorship schemes and experiential learning opportunities. For the years to come, members will be able to take various courses from different disciplines. The University will organise various workshops for the members, so that they can receive relevant information for mapping out their future development.

At today's (June 28) Inauguration Ceremony, HKU Vice-Chancellor Professor Lap-Chee Tsui summed up the Academy experience as being "fun, exciting, memorable and, most importantly, full of learning opportunities."

"Today, we have 121 secondary five students about to be inaugurated as Academy members - 121 seeds. We nurture the seeds that we have been given, and allow the fruits of those seeds to flourish and grow into new generations of global leaders who will make significant contributions to society," he added.

The Academy members will be exposed to non-traditional means of learning, include rigorous training in the specialisation of medicine, orthopaedics and dentistry. Some members will become a mentee under the mentorship programme organised by the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology for one full year. The Faculty of Science will take the students to a nature reserve at night, to come face-to-face with Hong Kong's most infamous indigenous reptiles and amphibians, so they can understand more about biodiversity and conservation. Some Academy members will be eligible to enrol in HKU credit-bearing courses in the fields of business, accounting and mathematics. The courses will be taught by the most renowned academic scholars of the University.   

HKU places a heavy emphasis on whole-person development. The Academy for the Talented is no exception. Through various learning modes, students will develop holistically for the year to come. A leadership training camp offered by the General Education Unit will help members to develop broader perspectives on various world and local issues. Members will also have a chance to work with students from Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, MIT and HKU to develop a cultural exchange plan to serve students living in Mianyang, Sichuan. In addition to all academic and enrichment courses, members will take part in orientation and residential programmes and hall activities, in order to get a genuine taste of HKU campus life.

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Trinni Choy (Assistant Director (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2606 / email: pychoy@hku.hk or Ms Melanie Wan (Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2600 / email: melwkwan@hku.hk .