The Hong Kong government has given its approval for the elevation of the Caritas Institute of Higher Education (CIHE), a church-affiliated institution, to university status. This decision marks the establishment of the first officially recognized Catholic university in Hong Kong. The chief executive-in-council and the permanent secretary for education have endorsed the institute's transformation into a university, resulting in a name change to Saint Francis University, as announced by the Hong Kong administration. This recognition is considered a significant achievement for the Catholic institute and reflects the government's dedication to offering young people in Hong Kong high-quality, flexible, and diverse educational opportunities, according to Christine Choi Yuk-lin, the secretary for education.
The Catholic institution is now the fourth self-financed post-secondary educational institution to be bestowed with a university designation. In addition to Caritas Bianchi College of Careers, St. Francis University provides post-secondary programs across 35 diverse disciplines, spanning social sciences, technologies, and economics, with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students. Cardinal Stephen Chow, Hong Kong's bishop, advocated for the establishment of a Catholic university during his tenure as the local superior of the Jesuits before assuming the role of bishop.
Upon assuming the role of bishop, Chow resurrected the concept of establishing a university, proposing the transformation of the Institute of Higher Education into a university. Kim Mak Kin-wah, the president of the university, emphasized that the change in designation would create more opportunities for high-quality tertiary education and offer recognition to young individuals aspiring to advance in their professions. Following the alteration in name, the university remains committed to delivering its distinctive curriculum. As of August 2022, records from the Hong Kong diocese indicated an estimated 395,000 Catholics among a population of around 7.4 million. Education holds a significant role in the Catholic Church's ministry in the former British colony, with the diocese overseeing 32 kindergartens, 105 primary schools, 85 secondary and middle schools, 1 vocational institute, 16 adult education centers, 8 special schools, 2 post-secondary institutions.
