CUHK was inaugurated with three colleges, Chung Chi, New Asia and United on 17 October, 1963. Since then, the unique college system of CUHK has been kept and developed. By the mid-1980s, Shaw College was established as the fourth college. To cope with the four-year undergraduate curriculum, another five colleges were opened in 21st century, including Morningside, S.H. Ho, C.W. Chu, Wu Yee Sun and Lee Woo Sing.

At CUHK, colleges play a vital role in students’ whole-person education, which complements the formal curricula. In addition to hostel services and pastoral care, colleges also offer general education programmes, social services opportunities, as well as scholarships to support students’ exchange or study programmes. Colleges are also the strongest bonds to connect students with the University. College life facilitates intimate interactions among teachers, students and alumni, and members of each college are able to learn and grow together.

As the University is stepping into its 52nd anniversary, we have produced a special video to record the growth of the nine colleges and bring you to experience the different cultures of each college.

CUHK has been honoured with the 2015 Exemplary Program Award for Improving General Education by the Association for General and Liberal Studies (AGLS), in recognition of its commitment to continuously improving teaching and learning approaches in general education based on students’ needs and learning outcomes. CUHK is the first institution outside the U.S. to be recognized in the new international category.

With the 2012 new curriculum, general education at CUHK was further enhanced by the introduction of the ‘General Education Foundation Programme’ (GEF). This is a common core programme added to the existing design of university general education and college general education, and a unique programme among local institutions. The programme requires students to explore the world of science and knowledge through the study of classics, and engage in dialogues with Nature and Humanity, so as to reflect on an ideal society and good life. Since the launch of GEF in 2012, over 20,000 students have enrolled in the programme. The teaching team has also been expanded from an initial few to 27.

To add to the students' enjoyment and understanding of the classics taught in GEF, innovative learning aids and enrichment activities for students have been introduced, including specially-designed mobile apps, Peer Assisted Study Sessions, as well as reading and writing workshops.

On 17 and 18 October, the CUHK Rowing Team Alumni Association will attempt to become the first group ever to row from Hong Kong to Macau and back in a charity feat named “Pearl River Estuary Challenge”. The expedition aims to raise HK$100,000 for WWF-Hong Kong’s marine and dolphin conservation work.

The 80km challenge will take up to 20 grueling hours to complete, starting at Tung Chung and ending at Tai O. Over the course, the intrepid team, a combination of current students and alumni, is expected to navigate through the core habitat of the Chinese white dolphin (CWD) in the Pearl River Estuary – also one of the busiest shipping channels in the world and the location of the Hong Kong- Zhuhai-Macau Bridge construction sites – and experience the manifold threats faced by dolphins.

Chiu Tak-wing, expedition leader and president of CUHK Rowing Team Alumni Association, said, “As rowers, we hope to use our power and rowing skills to express our concern over this issue. I hope this two day experience as a ‘dolphin’ will enlighten the public about what dangers the marine mammals are facing every day.”

To make sure all selected rowers are psychologically and physically strong enough to overcome every uncertainty during the expedition, the team has been training hard every week around Lantau Island since July. Let’s take a look of their intensive training, and hear the expectation and encouragement by Sir David Akers-Jones, Trustee of WWF-Hong Kong through the two videos.

Sharing by the rowing team: http://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/cutv/detail/640?lang=en

Sharing by Sir David Akers-Jones: http://www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk/cutv/detail/641?lang=en

Online donation: https://www.justgiving.com/Pearl-River-Estuary-Challenge/