Saint Francis University (SFU) welcomes the Chief Executive's publication of Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address, which set out proactive efforts to develop Hong Kong into a highland for international high-end talent, promote industry-academia-research integration, and advance artificial intelligence development. SFU will fully support the HKSAR Government's policy directions across multiple areas.
Regarding the mention in Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan of accelerating the planning and development of the Northern Metropolis and achieving integrated development of education, technology, and talent, Professor Stephen Yan-Leung Cheung, President of SFU, said: "As a pioneer of applied sciences universities in Hong Kong, SFU values industry-academia-research integration. We look forward to participating in the use of shared facilities in the Northern Metropolis University Town, connecting with enterprises settling there, and providing students with more entrepreneurship and internship opportunities."
SFU supports the Government's proposal to build a platform for industry-education integration, promote the high-quality development of vocational and professional education, and encourage applied sciences universities (UAS) to jointly offer programmes and conduct research projects with local and overseas institutions, introduce advanced teaching models for vocational and professional education, and enhance the overall quality and recognition of UAS.
In support of the Government's comprehensive promotion of the "AI+" policy, including enhancing students', young people's, and the public's awareness and skills in using artificial intelligence, as well as promoting its responsible use, the Ip Ying To Lee Yu Yee School of Humanities and Languages has been renamed Ip Ying To Lee Yu Yee School of Techno-humanities this academic year. Its new humanities and technology programmes incorporate artificial intelligence applications, striving to cultivate a new generation of talent equipped with both technological literacy and humanistic care. SFU's second campus, expected to be completed in Tai Wai as early as 2028, will incorporate artificial intelligence elements and focus on the fields of health sciences and artificial intelligence.
SFU also welcomes the announcement in the Policy Address that, starting from the 2029/30 academic year, the Fund for Innovative Technology-in-Education (FITE) will provide HK$40 million annually to promote the widespread application of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in the higher education sector. SFU believes this will help drive the long-term development of AI teaching and research in Hong Kong's higher education sector. The Policy Address also proposes the Government's AI risk-governance strategy, combating AI-related crimes and studying the regulation of deepfake crimes. SFU will actively align with the AI risk-governance direction set out in the Policy Address by promoting "AI Plus" in teaching, learning, and research. In addition to offering degree programmes in AI development and AI applications, SFU will incorporate digital literacy and AI applications into the compulsory credits of all students, striving to cultivate in students a responsible and ethical approach to using artificial intelligence.
SFU also welcomes the Government's promotion of high-quality primary healthcare development and its proposal to further enhance primary healthcare services within five years to comprehensively safeguard public health. SFU's S.K. Yee School of Health Sciences this year launched a new three-year part-time top-up Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Community Health and Practice programme (Part-time Top-up Programme) to train talent and meet the growing demand for primary healthcare services.
In support of the Government's efforts to deepen youth patriotism education, national education, and national security education, SFU has actively organised exchange and study tours to the mainland and countries along the "Belt and Road" in recent years, aiming to enable students to experience the country's latest developments and achievements firsthand. SFU organises multiple mainland exchange and study activities each year. Through field visits, thematic learning, and exchanges with teachers and students from mainland universities, students gain a deeper understanding of national development strategies and achievements in economic and social development, and learn firsthand about the latest developments in technological innovation and infrastructure construction, thereby deepening their understanding of the country's development journey and opportunities and cultivating a strong sense of national belonging.