3 minute read

HONG KONG ASSOCIATION’S MAGNIFICENT 21 YEARS

MAGNIFICENT 21 YEARS

21 years is an impressive achievement for any anniversary, but especially for two learning institutions based 6,000 miles apart.

The University of Wolverhampton’s construction course partnership with City University of Hong Kong has stretched across two decades, which has seen its annual student intake grow from fewer than 50 to about 160 today.

While the big 20-year anniversary event was thwarted by the Covid-19 pandemic last year, in 2021 the Hong Kong alumni association will celebrate the partnership’s successes.

The courses, which will be extended in October 2021, are highly regarded both at home and abroad, and their “fly-in faculty” model is a unique methodology that has stood the test of time. Lecturers and tutors are flown in from the UK to teach in English, giving students the best of two world-class universities. Conrad Fung, tutor and joint venture partner with City University, and Anthony Kam, alumni association chairman, do all they can to guide graduates to become successful professionals.

Anthony says, “The alumni association was established in the year 2000 – even earlier than the UK alumni association. When I visited the UK, I mentioned to the previous ViceChancellor that I’m the chairman of the Hong Kong alumni association, and she joked, ‘Wow – that means you’re the global chairman!” Conrad Fung, Hong Kong Alumni Association

Hong Kong Alumni Association Boat Party

The alumni association holds regular events throughout the year, but it isn’t just a social group – the association plays a key part in each graduate’s professional development.

Conrad says, “We organise seminars or workshops for them, which are run by, for example, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) or the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). “We also have social gathering dinners with committee members every month, so we have a very close relationship and connection with each other.”

Dr Paul Hampton, Head of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Wolverhampton, and Dr David Searle, lead tutor for City University of Hong Kong, have been working in partnership with the Hong Kong institution for 14 years and 15 years, respectively. Dr Hampton says that the partnership between Wolverhampton and Hong Kong started because of relationships formed by staff who’d had positive experiences studying in Hong Kong themselves. He says, “The partnership has remained strong through lots of challenges including Covid-19, and it’s grown from strength to strength.

“We’ve now built in the professional body accreditation which has happened over the last six or seven years, and we’ve got most if not all of the accreditations here from Hong Kong.”

Dr Hampton says that it’s a big enough milestone to reach a decade in a relationship, so he, Vice Chancellor Geoff Layer, and many dignitaries around the region are keen to celebrate what he calls a “remarkable partnership” of 21 years.

Alumni reunite Anthony Kam (right), Hong Kong Alumni Association ambassador

He adds, “If you’ve been impacted, inspired, or have seen this as a stepping stone to your success, please come along and join us to share your memories and stories and join this magnificent celebration.”

The anniversary event is due to take place on Thursday 2 December, and is planned to go ahead whatever the global situation at the time, whether in person in Hong Kong or via a special virtual celebration online.

21-year celebration event. Save the date: Thursday 2 December 2021

This article is from: