20 October 2016
Recent years have witnessed remarkable progress made by Hang Seng Management College (HSMC) in its teaching, learning and research endeavours. To give new impetus to its sustainable development, HSMC has been strengthening ties with supporters to consolidate its foundation for future growth.Established in November 2015, the Hang Seng Management College – Foundation(HSMC – Foundation) serves as a donor-engaging platform to advance its academic priorities by building on its financial support base. Reporting to the HSMC Board of Governors, the Foundation is managed by the Foundation Management Committee charged with ensuring safe custody and proper use of the Foundation’s funds.
HSMC held its “HSMC – Foundation Inauguration Ceremony cum Fundraising Dinner” at The Mira Hong Kong on Thursday, 20 October 2016. The Dinner was graced by over 350 Life Honorary Chairmen, Honorary Chairmen,Honorary Vice-Chairmen, Honorary Directors, Associate Directors, Senior Membersand Members of the Foundation, staff, alumni, students and friends of the College. A total of more than HK$6 million in support of HSMC’s development was raised at the event.
Miss Teresa Lui, currently studying the BBA in Financial Analysis programme, kick-started the Dinner with her impressive Yangqin performance. In her welcoming remarks, Ms Rose Lee, Chairman of Board of Governors, thanked donors and friends for their long-standing support. She said, “Looking forward, HSMC will be applying for the university title in mid-2017. HSMC aims to be a non-profit private university, recognised for excellence especially in the areas of business management, humanities and social sciences. It will provide diversified academic programmes and encourage teachers and students to develop research projects that are beneficial to society.”
“Founded in 1980,HSMC’s predecessor Hang Seng School of Commerce was a pathfinder in businesseducation in Hong Kong. Their programmes were well received by academia and thebusiness sector. The School has nurtured many business elites and talents forHong Kong over the years,” remarked the Hon. John Tsang, Financial Secretary ofthe HKSAR Government. Mr Tsang was also very impressed by HSMC’s beautiful campus,and its energetic and aspiring teachers and students.
Addressing the Dinner, President Simon S MHo pointed out HSMC has been making progress in many aspects: faculty members,campus expansion, teaching and residential facilities, learning resources,research and student performance. Adopting the unique “Liberal + Professional”education model, HSMC puts quality teaching and students’ all-round development at the top of its priority list. The quality of HSMC undergraduate experienceis characterised by small-class teaching, very close student-teacher interactions, guidance and mentorship for individual students outside classrooms, teaching management as a liberal art, first-ever residential college system adopted by a local private institution, and over 70% internship opportunities for each class. The College aims at nurturing young talents with independent thinking, innovative minds,human caring and social responsibilities.
President Ho added that, as a non-profit, self-financed higher institution, HSMC is often more flexible than publicly-funded institutions in terms of system and model. With adequate resources and supporting policies, private institutions are in a better position to promote education equality and diversity in higher education. Moreover, private institutions are more responsive to the changing needs of society and can more readily introduce new programmes and teaching innovations. Such self-financed institutions play a crucial and unique role in the local higher education sector, in that not only do their programmes make up for some of the existing inadequacies, but they also mean more educational choice for students, parents and teachers.
Dr Patrick Poon, Chairman of HSMC – Foundation and the Fundraising and Donation Committee, wholly agreed with the liberal arts education philosophy, as his children have benefited a lot from this type of education. Dr Poon said that higher education is not only a high-cost and long-term social commitment,but also the best investment for society. He emphasised that the Foundation would focus their efforts on expanding the network of stakeholders and reinforce the existing strong base of support. Last but not least, Dr Poon urged the Dinner participants to continue to support HSMC in nurturing leaders of tomorrow.
During the Dinner, Miss Nancy Lee, one of the Dinner Steering Committee Members, and the HSMC Student Sinfonietta performed two classic pop songs, “Fight Song” (奮鬥) and “The Impossible Dream”, for the guests.The Dinner was followed by a fundraising auction featuring six valuable items: a Xiang Embroidery “Up the River During Qingming”, a box-set of “Domaine de laRomanée-Conti Échézeaux and Penfolds Grange Bin 95” and a set of “KweichowMoutai” donated by Mr and Mrs Xiao Tan Ping, a modern painting “A Cowardly Frog” and a framed “Chinese Calligraphy Couplet in Kaishu” donated by Mrs Patricia Wong, HSMC Governor and Chairman of Sotheby’s Asia, and a “Fei CuiRing” donated by Dr Alex Chui, Member of HSMC Fundraising and Donation Committee. The auction items fetched a substantial amount of donations for HSMC.
HSMC is deeply indebted to the Dinner Steering Committee led by Dr George Lam and Mr Cheng Kam Por, the Fundraising and Donation Committee led by Dr Patrick Poon, and all organising and supporting colleagues for their efforts that made the Dinner a memorable event.
