Established in 1911, the University of Hong Kong is the territory’s oldest institute of higher learning and has committed itself to creating knowledge, providing education, and serving society. In 1956/57, the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) Department of Extra Mural Studies was the region’s first continuing education unit in a university, playing a significant role in the provision of lifelong learning opportunities for the wider community. In 1992, it was renamed as the School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE). HKU has a recognised role in lifelong learning and, as the continuing education arm; SPACE fulfils part of the University’s mission by providing learning opportunities for personal, professional and career advancement for people from all walks of life.
The School collaborates closely with the other faculties and departments of the University to offer timely and relevant courses that meet society’s needs. The global dimension is also important and the School has an extensive network of international universities with whom it collaborates, Northumbria University being one. HKU SPACE attracts students from Hong Kong, Mainland China and the wider region.
HKU SPACE has excellent physical resources in the Centre for Degree Programmes where Northumbria programmes are taught. This includes IT, library resources and teaching spaces. The combination of local and international teaching staff also addresses current trends in tertiary education, e.g. the “east-west” synthesis, which combines the strengths of a global perspective and a local practical framework.
The partnership between HKU SPACE and the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Northumbria University is well established, dating back to 2010.
Sport programmes are becoming increasingly important in the development of nations, both in health and industry, including applications such as sport development, event management, facility management, sport marketing and the health and fitness sectors. Hong Kong plays host to many major sporting events (e.g. Hong Kong Rugby Sevens) and has witnessed the development of a number of new sporting facilities (e.g. the Hong Kong Velodrome and Hong Kong Sports Institute). These developments in the provision and consumption of sport and leisure services are substantial and the numerous agencies in the industry requiring personnel from supervisory level to senior management grade include community organisations, clubs, hotels, fitness centres, tourism, voluntary groups, schools, sports associations, spas and commercial companies. As a result of the good working relationship between Northumbria University and HKU SPACE and the growing sport market in Hong Kong a range of sport programmes have been developed at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. This has helped cement the partnership between the two organisations.
There are currently two franchised programmes offered at HKU SPACE which are:
The BSc (Hons) Sport Management and BA (Hons) Sport Development with Coaching programmes offered at HKU SPACE are accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) and therefore enjoy similar status of local-accredited honours bachelor’s degree programmes.
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