HONG KONG (SE): Saint Francis University [SFU] marked a significant milestone in its internationalisation efforts by signing its first memoranda of understanding [MoU] with a Catholic university, the Fu Jen Catholic University [FJCU] in Taiwan. On March 20, the two institutions entered into two agreements at a formal signing ceremony held on SFU’s Tiu Keng Leng campus.
The two MoUs establish institutional and health sciences cooperation between the two universities, with the aim of strengthening collaboration in life education, studies in Catholic doctrines, and interdisciplinary research and development.
“The memoranda with FJCU are especially meaningful, as they are the first agreements the university has signed with another Catholic university,” said Professor Lo Tit-wing, acting president of SFU.
Lo expressed his hope that the partnership will foster student and faculty exchanges, joint research projects, and degree collaborations. He shared his aspiration to develop joint degree programmes across different disciplines, allowing students to benefit from academic experiences in both Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The memoranda with FJCU are especially meaningful, as they are the first agreements the university has signed with another Catholic university
Lo Tit-wing
The memoranda hold special significance, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of SFU and the 100th anniversary of FJCU. Professor Yip Ping-keung, who signed the agreements on behalf of FJCU, described the MoUs as a centennial gift marking the university’s longstanding commitment to Catholic higher education.
“The agreements demonstrate the two Catholic universities’ shared dedication to advancing life education and exchanging teaching methodologies across various fields,” he said.
Yip highlighted FJCU’s College of Medicine, which, despite being relatively young at 35-years-old, has become a vital part of the university’s academic offering.
Professor Liao Chun-hou, dean of the College of Medicine, expressed optimism for future collaborations between the two universities, particularly in student exchanges and academic research.
Jesuit Father Philip Fung Hon-chung, supervisor of the Jesuit Mission Office at FJCU, pointed to the university’s ongoing life education curriculum, which integrates Catholic ethical perspectives into student learning. He hopes that this experience could offer some insights to SFU.
Father Fung, formerly a neurologist, also anticipated opportunities to strengthen educational methods inspired by SFU’s nursing programmes.
The agreements demonstrate the two Catholic universities’ shared dedication to advancing life education and exchanging teaching methodologies across various fields
Yip Ping-keung
Professor Eric Chan, dean of the S.K. Yee School of Health Sciences at SFU, noted that it already emphasises the importance of compassionate patient care within its nursing curriculum. However, he acknowledged that SFU stands to gain from FJCU’s creative teaching methods, such as using film screenings to explore life values.
“One of the key objectives of the memoranda is to deepen the integration of compassion and service into our educational practices,” Chan said. “We want our students to understand the broader impact of their roles in society.”
Following the signing ceremony, representatives from both universities toured SFU’s health sciences facilities, including its home care practice areas, virtual reality simulation labs, and infection control training rooms.
The event concluded with a blessing at SFU’s university chapel, led by Guadalupe Father Arturo De La Torre.
Lo told the Sunday Examiner before the signing ceremony that since becoming a university of applied sciences in November last year, SFU has been seeking cooperation with Catholic universities worldwide.
We want our students to understand the broader impact of their roles in society
Eric Chan
It was recently visited by the University of Dayton in the United States as well as the Catholic University of Uruguay, and will visit the Boston College in the US next month as well as the Catholic University of Applied Sciences in Munich, Germany in the near future.
SFU has also joined the Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities [ASEACCU] to expand its network of Catholic higher education institutions in the region.
Futhermore, in order to pursue international partnerships, it has signed agreements with universities in mainland China as well as in countries such as Russia, the United Kingdom, Finland, and Singapore.
As part of its broader strategy, SFU is also strengthening ties with Catholic secondary schools and will offer tuition waivers and studentships to recruit students from Southeast Asian countries.
