HONG KONG (SE): Saint Francis University [SFU] submitted an application to the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications [HKCAAVQ] to formally integrate Caritas Bianchi College of Careers [CBCC] as an academic unit of the university. This significant development aims to expand academic opportunities and offer more diverse, flexible pathways for students in Hong Kong.
The application is currently under review by the accreditation body. If approved, CBCC will maintain its existing programme offerings, with all academic qualifications and awards granted to graduates remaining fully recognised. Importantly, from the beginning of the academic year this September, students enrolling at CBCC will receive graduation certificates issued by Saint Francis University—marking a milestone in the college’s academic accreditation.
Plans for the integration date back to 2012, when the then Caritas Institute of Higher Education received approval for its Tseung Kwan O campus. The institution has since undergone steady transformation, culminating in its official renaming as Saint Francis University in January 2024 and its recognition as a university of Applied Sciences in November 2024.
Under the proposed integration, CBCC will retain its Department of Design and Department of General Education. Meanwhile, SFU will absorb CBCC’s current Department of Business and Department of Hospitality Management, Department of Health Sciences, and Department of Social Sciences into its own academic structure. These will form part of SFU’s newly established schools: the Rita Tong Liu School of Business and Hospitality Management, the S.K. Yee School of Health Sciences, and the Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences.
The application is currently under review by the accreditation body. If approved, CBCC will maintain its existing programme offerings, with all academic qualifications and awards granted to graduates remaining fully recognised
CBCC’s 12 academic programmes—including associate degrees, higher diplomas, diplomas, and professional diplomas—will continue to be offered without interruption, ensuring continuity for current and prospective students.
Saint Francis University has steadily expanded its portfolio of applied degree programmes. Notably, its Bachelor of Nursing [Honours] [Applied Degree Places] programme, launched in 2022/23, includes the use of virtual reality and mobile games to enhance nursing education. In the 2024/25 academic year, SFU will also offered a Bachelor of Business Administration [Honours] in Applied Hotel and Tourism Management.
Looking ahead to the forthcoming academic year, SFU plans to introduce a Bachelor of Crime and Security Science [Honours] and a Higher Diploma in Crime and Security Science, with a strong focus on the integration of information and communication technology in fields such as criminology, criminal justice, and financial crime.
The integration of CBCC into SFU represents a key step in strengthening the Catholic Church’s mission in higher education in Hong Kong, while offering students greater access to quality, future-oriented academic programmes.
