Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) achieved significant milestones over the past year. On 1 April, the University held its Annual Town Hall Meeting with the President, themed “What's Next for HKMU?”. The event served as a platform to explore the University's future direction and upcoming developments, fostering proactive discussions among the university community to collaboratively shape a prosperous future.
Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing, HKMU President, introduced the launch of a range of diverse and practical programmes, including three new undergraduate programmes and five taught postgraduate programmes. HKMU also secured HK$77 million from the Enhancement and Start-up Grant Scheme for Self-financing Post-secondary Education to establish two new undergraduate programmes in “Diagnostic Radiography” and “Robotics and Automation Engineering” for the 2026/27 academic year.
HKMU has experienced notable growth in student recruitment, with the number of full-time students increasing at a rate of 9.5% per year over the past five years. However, Prof Lam emphasised that continuous staff expansion is not a sustainable solution to accommodate this growth. Instead, the University plans to leverage smart technologies, including IT and AI-assisted systems, to enhance operational efficiency and productivity.
Prof. Lam proudly highlighted the remarkable academic achievements over the past year. “As we expand our research endeavours, we must prioritise our strategic research areas and encourage faculty to apply for external grants, especially projects eligible for the Research Matching Grant Scheme,” he said. He also shared updates on the establishment of the HKMU Shenzhen Research Institute, featuring a 5,000-square-foot laboratory, which is set to open in the second quarter of 2025. The University is committed to providing infrastructural support to facilitate faculty research projects in Mainland China.
On campus development, the highlight was the acquisition of Cheung Kei Center, now renamed MU Tower, which provides quality space to support the University's long-term development. Prof. Lam emphasised that these initiatives align with three core goals of HKMU: “We strive to provide our students with top-notch education, help them build meaningful careers, and nurture them to become upstanding members of the community.”
The Town Hall Meeting attracted over 350 participants, including faculty members, staff, students and alumni. Attendees actively engaged with Prof Lam, sharing their insights on topics such as university rankings, the development of the university of applied sciences, student exchange programmes and student accommodation.
