The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) today received a $90 million donation from the Chow Tai Fook Cheng Yu Tung Fund for the construction of a Research and Academic Building. It will be named in honor of Dr Cheng Yu Tung in appreciation of his generosity.
As a world-class research university, HKUST seeks innovation and excellence by providing first-class research and teaching facilities so that teachers and students may enjoy a more stimulating environment. To prepare for the introduction of the new 334 education system, HKUST is actively seeking to strengthen its teaching and research facilities. To this end, the University has taken special care to visit the world’s leading research universities to study the design of their facilities, so as to provide a research environment second to none.
The new building will be designed with an open plan and high flexibility, so as to encourage interdisciplinary studies. It also comes with work stations for research personnel who will enjoy support services for the laboratories, along with special equipment and services that are common to all disciplines occupying the building. The new building is an eight-storey structure, with a total floor area of 10,000 square meters. Located at the southern end of the existing Academic Building, it will significantly boost the University’s cross-disciplinary research facilities which include multi-disciplinary laboratories, undergraduate teaching and research facilities, plus a multi-purpose lecture hall with a seating capacity for 400, providing a truly first-class learning and research environment for staff and students.
At the ceremony, HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan expressed his gratitude to Dr Cheng Yu Tung for his generosity and support. He said, “Dr Cheng’s investment in education will bring enormous benefits to the Mainland and Hong Kong. With these new facilities, we are one step closer to realizing our dream of fully integrating the “ONE-HKUST” concept, a concept I have always advocated, in which our students will enjoy the best of both worlds, combining the insights and wisdom of the science of management and the technological sophistication of the hard sciences. It will help stake our claim to being a leading international research university.”
The Chow Tai Fook Group has spared no efforts in support of philanthropic projects in Hong Kong and on the Mainland. It pays special attention to the nurturing of the next generation. Dr Cheng Yu Tung, Chairman of the Chow Tai Fook Group had this to say at the ceremony: “The Chow Tai Fook Cheng Yu Tung Fund is collaborating with HKUST because our two organizations share a common mission in seeking innovation and social progress. I hope that through this donation, HKUST will provide even better facilities and a peerless learning environment, turning out high-quality graduates who will in turn actively contribute to the community.”
About the Chow Tai Fook Cheng Yu Tung Fund and Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation
The “Chow Tai Fook Cheng Yu Tung Fund” is established under the “Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation”. Established in Beijing in October 2008 by the Chow Tai Fook Group, the Chow Tai Fook Charity Foundation has been actively supporting various charity endeavors, to make donations in the areas of education, medical and health care, child protection, etc.
For media enquiries, please feel free to contact :
Ross Lai
Tel: 2358 6306 / 9103 2928
Email: rosslai@ust.hk
Donna Wong
Tel: 2358 6317
Email: donnaw@ust.hk
