The 9th of January 2024 was a joyful day for all Catholics in Hong Kong. On that day the government formally granted university status to the Caritas Institute of Higher Education (CIHE).

Even though, last October, the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications already acknowledged that the institute met the requirements to gain university status, they had to wait  until now for formal accreditation. 

Since the 1970’s the creation of a Catholic university in Hong Kong was a goal of the local Catholic community. The first step towards this was the establishment of the Caritas Francis Hsu College, later renamed the Caritas Institute of Higher Education.

Together with the Caritas Bianchi College of Careers, the Caritas Institute of Higher Education offers many training courses in various fields of studies. The number of students currently enrolled, who are taking courses in 35 different disciplines in the institute, is about 2,500. 

The name of the university refers to Saint Francis of Assisi as well as Saint Francis Xavier, who was one of the greatest evangeliser in Asia.

The official acknowledgment of the institute as a university means that a long cherished dream of the Catholics in Hong Kong finally came true.

Source: Asia News