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General Information


Foundation and Development

For more than 60 years, Hong Kong Baptist University has developed world-class strengths across many disciplines with an enduring commitment to excellence in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, service and discovery.  Founded in 1956 as Hong Kong Baptist College, our Mission affirms the University's commitment to "Academic excellence in teaching, research and service, and to the development of whole person in all these endeavours built upon the heritage of Christian higher education".  In 1970, the University became the first institution to be recognized by the Hong Kong Government as an approved post-secondary college under the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (revised 1964).

In 1983, the Hong Kong Baptist College Ordinance was enacted by the Legislative Council, thus establishing the College as a statutory body and an autonomous institution. In the same year the College became a fully government-funded institution within the ambit of the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee (UPGC) (renamed University Grants Committee (UGC) with effect from November 1994).

With the improved funding base and strategic planning, in consultation with the UPGC, the College moved at a deliberate pace to introduce its first degree programmes (1986–87), to discontinue admissions to diploma-level programmes (1989–90), to introduce the MPhil (1988–89) and PhD (1991–92) research postgraduate degrees, and to introduce the postgraduate degrees by means of coursework (1992–93). In November 1994, legislative amendments were made to the Ordinance and the Institution was renamed the Hong Kong Baptist University.

Through each transformative event in our brief history, we have balanced academic excellence with dedication to the holistic development of the person and society.  Today, the University is proud to be a leading, publicly-funded university in Hong Kong that is open to all talents from across the world regardless of race, nationality, gender, creed and religion.

Graduate Attributes

Graduate Attributes for Undergraduate Students

An education at HKBU aims at developing all aspects of the whole person. In particular, it aims to foster the following attributes among its undergraduate graduates, who should:

  1. Be responsible citizens with an international outlook and a sense of ethics and civility (Citizenship);
  2. Have up-to-date, in-depth knowledge of an academic specialty, as well as a broad range of cultural and general knowledge (Knowledge);
  3. Be independent, lifelong learners with an open mind and an inquiring spirit (Learning);
  4. Have the necessary information literacy and IT skills, as well as numerical and problem-solving skills, to function effectively in work and everyday life (Skills);
  5. Be able to think critically and creatively (Creativity);
  6. Have trilingual and biliterate competence in English and Chinese, and the ability to articulate ideas clearly and coherently (Communication); and
  7. Be ready to serve, lead and work in a team, and to pursue a healthy lifestyle (Teamwork).

Graduate Attributes for Taught Postgraduate Students

On graduation, HKBU taught postgraduate graduates should have:

  1. Mastery of knowledge of their academic specialty or profession that is in-depth, advanced and up-to-date and be able to apply the knowledge to their profession or disciplines (Knowledge);
  2. The ability to evaluate and apply knowledge to make critical and independent judgement, and provide creative and innovative solutions to problems (Creativity);
  3. The ability to apply appropriate theories, methodologies and techniques for professional or disciplinary advancement in their fields (Skills);
  4. An on-going interest and capability in continuous learning for the purpose of tackling the complexities in their professional field or discipline through inquiry and critical reflection (Learning);
  5. The ability to synthesize and articulate ideas clearly, coherently and in a logical way, with fluent communication skills (Communication);
  6. A sense of upholding professional ethics and social responsibility consistent with their roles as local and global citizens (Citizenship).

Remark: HKBU's whole person education comprises seven elements. It is considered that “teamwork” should have been developed when students reach postgraduate level, therefore it is not highlighted in the Graduate Attributes for postgraduates. However, owing to the different nature of the programmes, “teamwork” may be one of the learning goals or programme outcomes as appropriate.

Graduate Attributes for Research Postgraduate Students

On graduation, HKBU research postgraduate and professional doctorate degree graduates should have:

  1. Mastery and creation of knowledge at the forefront of their field of specialization, together with advanced knowledge in other related areas (Knowledge);
  2. The ability to evaluate existing regimes and develop original research insights and methodology for advanced academic inquiry (Creativity);
  3. The ability to apply appropriate theories, research methodologies and techniques to make informed judgment and solve problems in general and of different complex contexts in their fields (Skills);
  4. A sustainable interest and autonomous initiative in the acquisition of advanced knowledge and in the exploration of new areas of research and professional environments (Learning);
  5. The ability to communicate and exchange knowledge and ideas in their fields clearly and effectively with specialist and non-specialist audiences (Communication);
  6. A sense of upholding professional ethics and social responsibility consistent with their roles as local and global citizens (Citizenship).

Remark: HKBU's whole person education comprises seven elements. It is considered that “teamwork” should have been developed when students reach postgraduate level, therefore it is not highlighted in the Graduate Attributes for postgraduates. However, owing to the different nature of the programmes, “teamwork” may be one of the learning goals or programme outcomes as appropriate.

HKBU Graduates—Whole Person

Outcomes-Based Teaching and Learning

The ultimate aim of education at the University is to nurture students into whole persons; students are expected to attain all the 7 Graduate Attributes (GAs) on graduation and continue to develop these attributes as they progress in their lives. Towards this end, Outcomes-Based Teaching and Learning (OBTL) has been fully implemented by the University. OBTL focuses not on what the teachers intend to teach, but rather on what the learners are able to do after their learning and graduation at the required standards.

At the course level, the Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs) and the Assessment Methods (AMs) are all constructively aligned with the Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), i.e. Constructive Alignment. At the programme level, there are also specific sets of Programme Intended Learning Outcomes (PILOs), as the aim of having students complete all courses within a programme is to ensure that they have achieved the PILOs, which are ultimately aligned to the GAs.

To implement OBTL effectively, the University has fully adopted Criterion-Referenced Assessment (CRA) from the Academic Year 2012/13, to help assess how well students have achieved the learning outcomes based on objective criteria. Each student's grade is independent of any other students, and there is no pre-set distribution of grades for assessment.

OBTL characterized with Constructive Alignment enables students to become active learners who would not only apply what they have learned to practice, but also reflect on that application for continuing improvement. By actively engaging in their chosen academic programmes and participating in meaningful co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, it is envisaged that our students will become the whole persons who can contribute to, and lead, our society.

Faculty Academic Advising/Mentoring Activities

The following advising personnel/parties collaborate to enhance students’ success in their university studies at different levels:

  1. The Faculty Advising Coordinator (FAC) assumes overall responsibility for coordinating all academic advising and mentoring activities in the Faculty, and works closely with advisors/mentors at various levels to take care of students’ development during their education at the University;
  2. The Faculty advisors (FA) (for Year 1 students) are broad-based programme academic advisors at the Faculty level helping freshmen adjust to university life and choose a suitable major; and
  3. Department mentors (DM) (for Year 1 programme-based, Year 2 students and above) are mentors at the departmental level for second year students and above. DMs help students succeed in their studies, provide career planning advice, and assist students’ successful transition to the workplace.

Faculties/Schools and AVA/departments will have the flexibility to organize their advising/mentoring scheme (including appointing student mentors to provide peer advice to students). To better cater for student needs, all students are expected to meet with their academic advisors/mentors for normally 6 to10 hours in a given academic year.

Medium of Instruction (MOI)

The medium of instruction for formal classroom teaching at HKBU is English, except for those courses that are granted exemption.

Exemptions to the language policy should adhere to the following general principles:

  1. Materials, texts and courses related to Chinese language and culture, such as Chinese language and literature and journalism; Chinese philosophy and history; Chinese music; as well as Chinese medicine and other similar courses would be taught in Chinese (Cantonese and Putonghua).
  2. Courses with a comparative or interdisciplinary element involving Chinese materials, text and culture would necessitate the use of Chinese as at least one of the languages of instruction.
  3. For disciplines intended for training graduates to work in a Chinese language context, there would be a justification for some of the courses to be taught in Chinese.
  4. Language classes for French, German, Spanish and Japanese would be conducted as far as feasible in the appropriate language.

The Academic Year

The academic year of the University starts at the beginning of September and concludes by the end of August of the following calendar year. For all undergraduate and most postgraduate programmes, the academic year normally includes two semesters, each of which consists of 16 weeks of academic work. An Academic Calendar with dates of important University activities during the academic year is issued for ready reference.

Certification of Academic Assessment

Testimonials

Testimonials are issued by the Academic Registry (for undergraduate programmes)/ Graduate School (for postgraduate programmes) as proof of student status at the University. As for personal recommendations or references, students are advised to approach faculty or staff members who know them well.

Transcripts

Official transcripts serve to indicate students’ status, courses taken, grades attained, and grade point averages. Transcripts bearing the signature of the Academic Registrar or his designate (for undergraduate programmes)/Dean of Graduate School or his designate (for postgraduate programmes) and the official stamp are the only form of official academic record to be issued by the University. Official transcripts are sent directly to identifiable institutions upon a student's request. They are not available to students as personal copies nor will they be despatched through students. Unofficial transcripts can be obtained by students. A fee is charged for the issue of transcripts.

Diplomas

Graduates having completed all graduation requirements upon approval of the Senate will be given the relevant diploma as the official document of graduation.

Academic Dress for Graduates

  1. Gown:
    Doctor (Honoris Causa)
    A dark red velvet robe with 4.5” wide gold satin facings down each side in front trimmed with blue satin in the middle

    Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Business Administration
    A black robe with royal blue velvet facings down and three velvet strips of royal blue colour on the sleeves

    Master of Philosophy and Taught Master
    A black robe of the Oxford MA pattern

    Postgraduate Diploma
    A black robe of the Oxford MA pattern

    Bachelor
    A black robe of simple traditional style
  2. Hood:
    Doctor (Honoris Causa)
    A dark red velvet hood lined with gold satin

    Doctor of Philosophy
    A black hood with blue and gold silk lining throughout and with a royal blue velvet edge lining

    Doctor of Business Administration
    A black hood with blue and gold silk lining throughout and with a silver grey edge lining and an additional lining of the same colour of one centimetre wide running parallel at a distance of one centimetre from the edge lining

    Master of Philosophy
    A black hood with blue and gold silk lining throughout and with deep purple edge lining

    Taught Master
    A black hood with blue and gold silk lining throughout and an edge lining of degree-oriented colour and an additional lining of the same degree colour of one centimetre wide running parallel at a distance of one centimetre from the edge lining

    Bachelor
    A black hood with blue and gold silk lining throughout, and an edge lining of degree-oriented colour
  3. Cap:
    Doctor (Honoris Causa)
    A black velvet bonnet with gold tassel

    Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Business Administration
    A cap of mortar-board pattern with gold tassel

    Master of Philosophy, Taught Master, Postgraduate Diploma, and Bachelor
    A cap of mortar-board pattern with black tassel
  4. Stole:
    Postgraduate Diploma
    A stole in discipline-specific colour
  5. Degree colours:
    Degree Colour
    Bachelor of Arts (BA) Sky Blue
    Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Education (BEd) Dark Red
    Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Silver Grey
    Bachelor of Chinese Medicine (BCM) Light Green
    Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Silver Grey
    Bachelor of Communication (BComm) Sea Blue
    Bachelor of Education (BEd) Citron
    Bachelor of Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine (BPharm in CM) Olive Green
    Bachelor of Science (BSc) Gold Yellow
    Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Education (BEd) Dark Red
    Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc) Citron
    Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc) and Bachelor of Education (BEd) Dark Red
    Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Citron
    Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration (BSWSA) Citron
    Master of Accountancy (MAcc) Silver Grey
    Master of Arts (MA) Sky Blue
    Master of Business Administration (MBA) Silver Grey
    Master of Chinese Medicine (MCM) Light Green
    Master of Education (MEd) Citron
    Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Citron
    Master of Human Resources Management (MHRM) Silver Grey
    Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MPS) Olive Green
    Master of Philosophy (MPhil) Deep Purple
    Master of Public Administration (MPA) Citron
    Master of Science (MSc) Gold Yellow
    Master of Social Sciences (MSocSc) Citron
    Master of Social Work (MSW) Citron
    Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Silver Grey
    Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Royal Blue

Changes and Modifications

The University reserves the right to change the courses offered and modify the academic programme from time to time as approved by the Senate. For graduation requirements, a student should follow the University Student Handbook issued in the year of admission; however, under special circumstances, a student may follow the University Student Handbook issued in the year of completion of studies. For courses that are no longer offered, the Academic Registrar/Dean of Graduate School or his designate may grant approval for substitution of equivalent courses based on the recommendations of the respective departments/ programmes.

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