Announcement: Appointment of Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung as President of Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University (SFU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung as the University's new President, effective 15 September 2025. His Eminence Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., Chairman of SFU's Board of Governors, welcomed Professor Cheung on his appointment. "Professor Cheung is a proven leader in higher education and a renowned scholar who understands SFU's strengths and aspirations. He is fully committed to the SFU's mission, making him well-suited to lead the University into the future," he said.
Dr Denis Chang, Chairman of the SFU Council, also welcomed Professor Cheung to the SFU community. He remarked, "Professor Cheung has an exemplary record of leadership and achievements in advancing teaching and research excellence across various disciplines, raising institutional prominence, and engaging effectively with stakeholders to drive transformative change. We have every confidence in his ability to take the University to new heights of excellence and impact."
In response to his appointment, Professor Cheung said, "I am honoured by the trust placed in me and accept this appointment with humility. I am excited to join SFU, a young and vibrant University that has emerged as one of the leading Universities of applied sciences in Hong Kong. SFU offers signature programmes in nursing, social work, early childhood education, artificial intelligence, business and hospitality management, and design. These areas of study are highly relevant and beneficial to the development of our Country and Hong Kong.
"Guided by the University's motto "自強不息", I look forward to working with the SFU community to unlock the University's full potential and to provide young people with more opportunities for upward mobility, empowering them to thrive in a hope-filled future," Professor Cheung added.
Professor Cheung brings to SFU a distinguished record of leadership excellence in Hong Kong's higher education sector, combining exemplary academic credentials with extensive administrative expertise. He served as President of The Education University of Hong Kong from 2013 to 2023 and previously held the positions of Dean and Chair Professor of Finance at the Business School of Hong Kong Baptist University.
Professor Cheung holds a bachelor's degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and earned doctoral degrees from Université Paris VI in France and the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, respectively. As an internationally renowned scholar in finance who remains actively engaged in cutting-edge research, his areas of expertise encompass corporate social responsibility and financial market development, with his scholarly contributions extensively published in leading peer-reviewed international academic journals.
Professor Cheung demonstrates a strong commitment to public service. His distinguished record of public service encompasses leadership roles in a wide range of areas including finance, regional economic cooperation, cultural development, social innovation and public transport.
SFU also extends its sincere appreciation to Professor Lo Tit Wing for his dedicated service as Acting President. Professor Lo will resume his role as Vice President (Research and Development) and will continue to advance the University's research and academic excellence.
Under Professor Cheung's leadership, SFU will continue to offer comprehensive and diverse programmes with flexible articulation pathways. The University remains committed to nurturing outstanding talents equipped with professional knowledge, practical skills, and moral integrity, empowering them to make contributions to society.
Click here to download the full text of the message from Professor Cheung to colleagues and students of Saint Francis University
For more information, please contact:
Public Affairs Office, Saint Francis University
Tel: 3653 6732 Email: pao@sfu.edu.hk
About Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University, initially founded in 1985 as Caritas Francis Hsu College, is a non-profit, self-financed private institution committed to delivering quality higher education. It was renamed from Caritas Institute of Higher Education to Saint Francis University in January 2024. On November 1, 2024, the Education Bureau officially approved Saint Francis University to become a University of Applied Sciences (UAS).
Saint Francis University is proud to be a pioneer in offering applied degree programmes. We introduced the "Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) (Applied Degree Places)" in the 2022/23 academic year and the "Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) in Applied Hotel and Tourism Management" in the 2024/25 academic year. Additionally, the "Bachelor of Crime and Security Science (Honours)" and the "Higher Diploma in Crime and Security Science" are introduced in the 2025/26 academic year. These new programmes will have a core focus on information and communication technology (ICT), covering fields such as criminology, criminal justice, and financial crime.
For more information, please visit: https://www.sfu.edu.hk/