Chinese University details expansion plans
The head of Chinese University yesterday spelled out details of future plans, including campus development and the setting up of a research institute in Shenzhen.
Vice-chancellor Lawrence Lau Juen-yee said four consultancies would be invited to draft designs for the development of the campus in the coming two decades - in response to the need to accommodate an influx of students under the new senior secondary structure in 2012 and to update academic facilities.
He said the proposals would be displayed and feedback from students, staff and alumni would be collected. One of four designs is expected to be picked next year.
Pro-vice-chancellor Liu Pak-wai said the designs should indicate the distribution of buildings, which should be planned with the aim of providing students with a comfortable learning environment.
Professor Lau said the university would set up a research institute in Shenzhen at a cost of about HK$100 million. The university is in the process of raising the funds.
The university's teaching staff would have access to the institute, and the university would benefit from talent and capital on the mainland, Professor Lau said. Training courses and master programmes would also be offered.
'It only takes 20 minutes to go to Shenzhen [from CUHK],' he said.
To cater for the needs of 3,000 extra students under the new academic structure, the university would build at least two more residence halls to accommodate 2,100 students in addition to two already under way - Morningside College and SH Ho College, which would accommodate 900 students.
Professor Lau said he was confident about raising funds for the new colleges despite lukewarm support from the government.
Professor Liu said while the Education and Manpower Bureau supported increased exposure to hall life, approval had yet to come from 'those holding the purse strings'.
Professor Lau said the university would explore ways to save energy by using solar power and by raising the temperature of air conditioning. Tree-cutting would be avoided in the process of development, he added.
The university expects to hire 400 more teaching staff by 2012 to prepare for the new academic curriculum.
