The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) received a HK$3 million donation from Tin Ka Ping Foundation (the Foundation) for the University’s work in gifted education. The donation will be used for enhancing peer and family support for young gifted learners, so these children could unleash their potential in a well-supported environment.
The HK$3 million is part of a generous gift of the Foundation to nine local higher education institutes in celebration of Dr Tin Ka Ping’s 100th birthday. HKUST is pleased to be the first to kick-off the celebration with the Foundation. Its Board Chairman Mr Sam Tin Hing Sin, Deputy Chairman Mr Tai Hay Lap and Director Mr Tin Wing Sin officiated the ceremony today with the University’s President Prof Tony F Chan, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement Dr Sabrina Lin, Director of The Center for the Development of the Gifted and Talented (CDGT) Prof King L Chow and other members of senior management.
Dr Tin Ka Ping founded the Foundation in 1982. “To celebrate the 100th birthday of Dr Tin Ka Ping, the Foundation donated HK$3 million each to nine universities in Hong Kong to support university student development, so as to convey the message that “China’s future lies in education”, and the aim of giving back to the society and contributing to the motherland,” Mr Sam Tin said. “We value the strong partnership with HKUST, which has been going from strength to strength over the years. We look forward to nurturing more talents for the society together.”
HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan expressed his wholehearted gratitude to the Foundation. “Dr Tin is a well-respected philanthropist and a keen advocate for education. Our engagement with Dr Tin could date back to his friendship with our President Emeritus Prof Chia-wei Woo. Besides university general development, his generous support over the years has helped bring world-class scholars to our campus, enhanced students’ interest in creative Chinese writing, allowed us to invite kids from underprivileged families to attend science and mathematics workshops, sustain the programs on gifted education and host international games to promote physics. Dr Tin is a living model of his own motto loving people with virtue, we wish him a very happy birthday and may health and peace be with him always.”
On top of programs for gifted learners, CDGT - the unit that leads gifted education development at HKUST, will also use the donation to establish social network and support groups for the gifted children’s parents and teachers. The center will also offer workshops to help them understand these children’s social and emotional needs, and how they can achieve whole-person development.
CDGT Director Prof King L Chow said, “Everyone is gifted and each of them deserves some opportunities to flex their talents to be recognized, irrespective of their unique background. The emphasis of the work at CDGT, which is well aligned with the mission of the Foundation, is to give these students such opportunities, achieving the goal of education for all.”
About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (www.ust.hk) is a world-class research university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. HKUST attained the highest proportion of internationally excellent research work in the Research Assessment Exercise 2014 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee, and is the world’s second in the latest QS’ Top 50 under 50 ranking. Its graduates were ranked 12th worldwide and top in Greater China in Global Employability University Survey 2017.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Anita Lam
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Email : anitalam@ust.hk
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