Milestones - 55th Anniversary of The Chinese University of Hong Kong

1949

New Asia College founded

1951

Chung Chi College founded (Dr Leslie G Kilborn laying the foundation stone of Chung Chi College’s new campus on May 1956)

1956

United College founded

1961

The Hong Kong Government appointed a University Preparatory Committee to advise on sites and buildings for The Chinese University of Hong Kong, with Chung Chi College, New Asia College, and United College as constituent colleges.

1962

Fulton Commission was established

1963

The Hong Kong Government accepted the recommendations of the Fulton Commission. The Provisional Council of the University was established. The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ordinance came into effect. The University Council, with the Honourable Sir Cho-yiu Kwan as the first Chairman, was set up. Dr Li Choh-ming was appointed the first Vice-Chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Three Colleges amalgamated to form CUHK

Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Social Science established

1964

The motto of the University: 'Bo Wen Yue Li (Through learning and temperance to virtue)' was adopted

The first Vice-Chancellor was installed and the first Honorary Degrees were conferred

The first Bachelor’s Degrees were conferred

1965

First student exchange programme launched

School of Education established (Upgraded to Faculty of Education in 1991)

Department of Extramural Studies established (renamed School of Continuing Studies in 1994 and School of Continuing and Professional Studies in 2006)

1966

Graduate School established (Hong Kong’s first graduate school)

1967

Institute of Chinese Studies established

The first Master’s Degrees were conferred

1969

The Central Office moved to the campus in Shatin

1971

Sir Yuet-keung Kan was appointed the Council Chairman

The University Student Union was inaugurated

United College moved to the campus in Shatin

1972

University Library Opened

1973

New Asia College moved to the campus in Shatin

1974

Faculty of Business Administration established

1975

The Chancellor appointed the Second Fulton Commission

1976

The report of the Second Fulton Commission completed. The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ordinance 1976, drafted in accordance with the recommendations of the Fulton Report, came into effect. The Report emphasized academic participation in the governance of the University and the integration of academic departments.

1978

The first Vice-Chancellor, Dr Li Choh-ming, retired and Professor Ma Lin was appointed the second Vice-Chancellor.

1980

The first PhD programme was launched

1981

Faculty of Medicine established

Undergraduate Part-time Degree Programmes were introduced

1982

Sir Quo-wei Lee was appointed the Council Chairman

The first Doctor of Philosophy Degrees were conferred

1984

The Provisional Acceptance Scheme for undergraduate programme was implemented

1986

The undergraduate curriculum was restructured on a credit-unit system. General education was further strengthened.

Shaw College founded

1987

Professor Ma Lin retired and Professor Charles K Kao was appointed the third Vice-Chancellor

1989

The Senate endorsed the adoption of a flexible credit unit system for undergraduate studies with effect from September 1991

1991

Department of Nursing established (renamed Nethersole School of Nursing in 2002)

Faculty of Engineering established

1992

School of Pharmacy established

1993

School of Accountancy established

CUHK Convocation established

1995

HKIX set up at CUHK to provide an interconnection point for local internet traffic

1996

Professor Charles K Kao retired and Professor Arthur K.C. Li was appointed the fourth Vice-Chancellor

1997

Dr Lee Hon-chiu was appointed the Council Chairman

1998

The first batch of mainland students were admitted to undergraduate programmes

School of Chinese Medicine established (originally in the Faculty of Science, transferred to the Faculty of Medicine in 2013)

School of Hotel Management established (renamed School of Hotel and Tourism Management in 2002)

1999

School of Public Health established (renamed The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care in 2009)

2000

The Institute of Chinese Medicine (ICM) was established

2002

Professor Ambrose Y.C. King succeeded Professor Arthur K.C. Li as the fifth Vice-Chancellor

First conferment of honorary fellowships

2003

Dr Edgar W.K. Cheng was appointed the Council Chairman

2004

Professor Ambrose Y.C. King retired and Professor Lawrence J Lau was appointed the sixth Vice-Chancellor

The School of Law was established (upgraded to Faculty of Law in 2008)

2006

The University has adopted a ten-year strategic plan to guide its development for the coming decade

Identified five areas for focused research investment

Morningside College and S.H. Ho College established

2007

C.W. Chu College, Wu Yee Sun College and Lee Woo Sing College established

2008

CUHK’s teaching and learning commended by Quality Audit Council of University Grants Committee

2009

Dr. Vincent H.C. Cheng was appointed the Council Chairman

Former Vice-Chancellor Professor Charles K Kao awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics

School of Architecture established

2010

Professor Lawrence J Lau retired and Professor Joseph JY Sung was appointed the Seventh Vice-Chancellor

2011

The grand opening of the teaching hotel and naming of Cheng Yu Tung Building

Professor Poon Wai-yin, Associate Dean (Education) of the Faculty of Science) and professor in the Department of Statistics, awarded Inaugural UGC Award for Teaching Excellence

Inauguration of the new campuses of S.H. Ho College and Morningside College

CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute opened

2012

CUHK had operated a four-year normative curriculum from its establishment in 1963 up to the mid-1990s. In accordance with territory-wide educational reforms, the University reverted to a 4-year undergraduate curriculum from September 2012

2013

Grand Opening of the Yasumoto International Academic Park