Standard
25/6/2014

College all sets for a new chapter 

Hang Seng Management College has been undergoing a transformation in recent years and is considered the most qualified local private tertiary institution to be upgraded to a university. 
Its new president, Simon Ho Shun-man, has rich teaching and administrative experience at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the University of Macau.
 Just months after taking up the position, he has drawn up a blueprint for the school to be developed into a liberal arts university by 2017. 
Ho headed business-related disciplines at CUHK before joining Macau University, where he was responsible for administration and took part in the development of the institution's new Hengqin campus.
Hang Seng Management College is best known for its business programs. 
However, Ho believes the school's future lies in expanding its humanities courses to strengthen its all-round connections. 
The school aims to offer a program in the Chinese language next year and has appointed Cheung Kwong-yue as head of the department.
 First-stage planning has been completed and in the second, an internship program will be developed, the first for a Chinese department at a local tertiary institution. 
It will aim to secure for students positions in the educational and commercial sectors, in radio and television stations as well as other media outlets, including newspapers and online publications. 
Hang Seng's existing programs have already passed basic academic assessments for upgrading. 
Now it can become a dormitory for close to half of its students because of a sizable campus, rare among local private tertiary institutions. 
Superior hardware, a solid foundation and the added energy of a new president will certainly catapult the school into a phase of rapid development. Siu Sai-wo is publisher of Sing Tao Daily