This year, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) is celebrating its 45th anniversary. The University has come a long way since it was first established as Hang Seng School of Commerce (HSSC) in 1980 as a non- profit private institution in Hong Kong. Join us as we step back in time and learn about the passion and dedication of our founders, supporters, teachers, alumni, and the larger community, that brought HSUHK to life.
Our humble origins
In 1963, Hang Seng Bank offered part of a six-week staff training course to the public in the form of free lectures on banking in response to requests from clients and friends. This “Elementary Banking Programme” was very popular and inspired Dr Ho Sin-hang, one of the founders of Hang Seng Bank, to establish a school to nurture financial talent for Hong Kong. Dr Ho later proposed setting up HSSC as a non-profit private institution that offered full-time two-year business diploma programmes for Form-5 graduates, free-of-charge.
In 1972, Hang Seng Bank formally applied to the Government for land allocation to build the HSSC campus. The proposal was accepted in early 1974, and with the efforts of Sir Lee Quo-wei, then General Manager of Hang Seng Bank, the Government granted a 15,000 square metres site in Siu Lek Yuen, Sha Tin in 1977 for the construction of the HSSC Campus.
HSSC decided to remain independent of regular funding from the Government. A foundation fund of HK$80 million was set up with benevolent donations from the S H Ho Foundation, the Ho Tim Charitable Foundation, Dah Chong Hong Limited, several founding directors of Hang Seng Bank, Hang Seng Bank Limited and other supporters, creating a stable financial ground for the School.
On 1 August 1980, HSSC’s faculty and staff were hired and officially took up their positions. Open enrolment was conducted, and 210 students were granted admission in the Institution’s first year. When HSSC was established, Dr Ho Sin-hang was Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sir Lee Quo-wei was its Supervisor, and Mr Ho Nga-ming was appointed President.
Transforming to a degree-granting college
Ten years after its first academic year, 660 students were enrolled at HSSC, tripling from the first year. In 1991, HSSC began providing a two- year A-level matriculation programme and subsequently replaced the two- year business diploma programme, given the increase in local bachelor’s degree places and a decline in demand for post-Form-5 diplomas. In the early 2000s, HSSC made its name for the number of students that achieved “A” grades in the A-level Examinations. In response to the Government’s policy in expanding the proportion of Form-6 graduates to complete higher education qualifications, in 2003, HSSC started offering associate degree programmes to replace the matriculation programmes.
In response to the Chief Executive’s Policy Address in 2009, which highlighted the growing need for quality private universities in Hong Kong, HSSC was re-structured in 2010 and became Hang Seng Management College (HSMC), a non-profit private four-year degree-granting institution registered under the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320) to offer bachelor’s and above degree programmes across diverse disciplines.
The College first launched three undergraduate degree programmes, and between 2011 to 2018, HSMC developed 17 bachelor’s degree programmes. In 2016, HSMC also launched its first taught postgraduate programme (TPG).
In 2011, HSMC was allocated new land by the Government for campus expansion. Subsequently, the S H Ho Academic Building, the Lee Shau Kee Complex, the Lee Quo Wei Academic Building, the Wei Lun Square and the Jockey Club Residential Colleges were completed.
Retitling to a full-fledged university
On 30 October 2018, after rigorous international assessments, HSMC was granted approval by the HKSAR Government and retitled “The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong”.
Now, HSUHK is a full-fledged non-profit private liberal- arts-oriented university, famous for its unique “Liberal + Professional” education model, award-winning green campus facilities, innovative degree programmes, a residential college system combining living and learning, small interactive classes, close student- teacher relationships, impactful research, and excellent student development and support services.
Currently, HSUHK has six Schools (Business, Communication, Decision Sciences, Humanities and Social Science, Translation and Foreign Languages, and Transdisciplinary Studies), and offers a wide range of accredited bachelor’s degree and taught master’s degree programmes. Many of these programmes are unique and the first of their kind in the region. In the 2024-25 academic year, approximately 6,000 undergraduate students have enrolled across 26 programmes offered at the University.
Supporting the University’s strategic goal to develop postgraduate and executive development programmes in accordance with HSUHK’s positioning and competitive advantages, the University offers 14 TPG to over 820 students in the 2024-25 academic year. The University also plans to launch its first professional doctorate programme in decision analytics.
HSUHK has been providing its students with a full range of co-curricular programmes, residential college life, international exposure and student support services. It is also the first and only self-financed degree-granting institution in Hong Kong to adopt a full small residential college system, and the first higher education institution in Hong Kong to establish the Honours Academy, which nurtures high-achieving, high-potential and highly motivated students to become outstanding public leaders.
Remarkable international recognition
HSUHK has been expanding its international outreach and impact. We joined the Alliance of Asian Liberal Arts Universities in 2024, and the Climate-U Network initiated by the University College London in the UK in 2025 and have built global connections with over 100 exchange partners.
With the hard work and dedication of the University community, HSUHK consistently receives outstanding international recognition. The MSc in Global Supply Chain Management programme ranked 84th globally in the QS International Trade Rankings 2025. The programme also ranks 4th and 7th in Hong Kong and the Greater China region respectively.
Earlier, HSUHK ranked the 7th (overall) in the ASEAN+ region, 1st in the Greater China region, and 1st in Employability as per the 2023 AppliedHE ASEAN+ private university assessment by Singapore-based organisation, AppliedHE. Additionally, it was listed among the top 200 universities globally for “Quality Education” and “Decent Work and Economic Growth” in the 2021 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.
On research and knowledge transfer fronts, in the 2024 Top Universities and Top Scientists Rankings conducted by Research.com, HSUHK ranks 21st in the field of Business and Management; 24th in Social Sciences and Humanities; and 30th in Economics and Finance among top universities in China. The “ExpoDrone” and “OPlusO Hub”, two AI-driven event management systems developed by our Decision Sciences scholars, won Silver at the 50th and 49th Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions respectively.
At the Ernst & Young Open Science Data Challenge 2024, our student team triumphed over 1,800 institutions worldwide, winning the world championship.
Celebrating our 45th Anniversary
To commence year-long celebrations for our 45th Anniversary, a kick-off ceremony was held on 23 January 2025, officiated by President Simon Ho, President of HSUHK, alongside the Co-Chairman of The HSUHK 45th Anniversary Organising Committee, alumnus Mr Thomas Ching, and Ms Antonia Yeung, Associate Vice-President (Development and Campus Services). On the same occasion, President Ho also presented the University Flag to the 2025 HSUHK Marathon Team.
The 45th Anniversary Reception cum 10th Anniversary Celebration of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong – Foundation was held on 13 March 2025 and was officiated by Ms Diana Cesar, Chairman of the Board of Governors of HSUHK; Dr Moses Cheng, Chairman of the Council of HSUHK and President Simon Ho. The University welcomed over 400 guests, including Legislative Councillors, District Councillors, government officials, members of the founding families, donors, business and community leaders, consuls general, university partners, members of the Board of Governors and the Council, staff, students and alumni to join the celebrations.
The University History Concourse, curated by the University Library, was also launched on the same day. This permanent exhibition, themed “Strong Foundations Begets Proper Ways”, covers the University’s origins and its development in scale and curriculum through a collection of photographs and artifacts.
Other signature 45th Anniversary celebratory events include an Anniversary Concert at Hong Kong City Hall on 18 September, and a Green Run/Walk on 13 December. University departments and units will also host numerous international conferences, exhibitions, competitions, and carnivals, to create a celebratory environment while fostering collaboration and enhancing learning opportunities within the University community.
We go further together
In celebrating our 45th anniversary, President Simon Ho said, “Our accomplishments have garnered recognition on local, regional, and international fronts, and together, we will continue to aim higher and further as our University plays its unique and substantial role in the international higher education sector.” President Ho also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the founders, founding families and supporters of HSUHK, as well as former and existing staff, and students and alumni who are a beacon of light for HSUHK that shine brightly in their professional fields, and illuminate the path for future generations.