General Description

The School of Continuing Education (SCE) of the Hong Kong Baptist University was founded in 1975 and is one of the seven schools or faculties of the University. The educational objectives of the SCE are based on the notion "Learning is a lifelong process". The School has been providing people of all ages with ways and options for professional training and academic advancement to meet the needs of the rapidly changing society.

The School responds to this increasing demand by offering quality education programmes.It has also designed a comprehensive study ladder which gives much flexibility to individuals to plan for their studies at their own pace and their own time. It includes short courses, diploma and certificate programme, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programme, as well as tailor-made in-house training courses for corporations and the government. Some of these courses have been included in the list of reimbursable courses for Continuing Education Fund purpose.

The annual enrolment for part-time evening courses is over 50,000, amongst which 10,000 are at the undergraduate and post graduate levels. In addition to a few part-time degrees awarded by the Hong Kong Baptist University, the School has also provided various degree programmes collaboratively with different overseas institutions since 1985. More than 500 part-time evening subjects are planned for each of the three terms in a year. Some short courses designed on a modular basis are grouped into various streams under the Certificate and Diploma programme. All of these programmes are designed with various study modes incorporating lectures, tutorials, intensive seminars and group study, enabling learners to continuously upgrade their knowledge and professional skills.

For full-time programmes, in response to the HKSAR's policy of widening access to tertiary education, the College of International Education was established in 2000 to offer the Associate Degree Course. Together with the Associate Degree Foundation Course and Top-up programme later introduced, the School offers an alternated route to furthering studies to 2,000 secondary school leavers.

To make education opportunities accessible to individuals living in different districts, the SCE holds classes at outlying centres in Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories in addition to the HKBU Campus Centre. Well-realizing the demand for space as a result of increases in enrolments and types of courses offered, the School has also built a 10-storey Madam Chan Wu Wan Kwai School of Continuing Education Tower on campus, and acquired a 48,000 sq ft. office in Franki Centre, Kowloon Tong as its headquarters. In September 2006, the 30,000 square meter, $360 million HKBU Shek Mun (Shatin) Campus College of International Education was unveiled to provide an additional 3,000 full-time places, in addition to serving as a continuing education hub in the New Territories offering an extensive range of part-time short courses and award-bearing programmes from Certificate to Doctoral level for adult learners.