The Hong Kong Polytechnic University establishes the Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture and signs MoU with the Institute of Humanities, Tsinghua University

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) held the Opening Ceremony of the Research Centre for Chinese History and Culture (the Research Centre) today and signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Humanities of Tsinghua University.

The Opening Ceremony was officiated by Mr Kevin YEUNG Yun-hung, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Mr ZHANG Guoyi, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

They were joined by Dr LAM Tai-fai, Council Chairman of PolyU; Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, PolyU’s President; Prof. Wing-tak WONG, PolyU’s Deputy President and Provost; and Prof. PENG Gang, Vice President of Tsinghua University, and Prof. LIU Shi, Dean of the School of Humanities, Tsinghua University, both via video conferencing, in witnessing the signing of the MoU by Prof. LI Ping, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, PolyU and Prof. ZHONG Weimin, Chairman of the Department of History, Tsinghua University.

Mr Kevin Yeung said, “The establishment of the Research Centre by PolyU will facilitate the promotion of Chinese history and cultural education on campus as well as in Hong Kong, helping our young people to learn and understand our country’s history. I hope the Research Centre and the collaboration between PolyU and the Institute of Humanities of Tsinghua University will elevate PolyU’s research in humanities to a new level and yield fruitful achievements. I am confident that both institutions will leverage their academic excellence and unleash a new chapter through this collaboration.”

Dr Lam Tai-fai said, “PolyU is committed to nurturing a new generation of young people who love the Nation and Hong Kong, who are aspirational, have a global perspective and adopt positive values. We believe that one should learn and understand the Nation’s history and culture in order to love and contribute to the motherland. In establishing the Research Centre and collaborating with Tsinghua University, we aim to promote Chinese culture, strengthen national education, and enhance the pride of local youth and their identification with and sense of belonging to the Nation. We will strengthen academic exchange between Hong Kong and the mainland, provide training to teachers, and produce related teaching materials. The Research Centre aspires to become an influential academic institution in humanities, endeavours to support the Hong Kong SAR Government’s efforts in promoting Chinese culture and developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, and seeks to help young people in embracing and participating in the Nation’s development.”

Since the 2022/23 academic year, PolyU undergraduate students are required to study a subject related to Chinese history and culture to enhance their interest towards Chinese heritage and identification with the Nation through systematic education.

PolyU is honoured to have a distinguished panel of advisors for the Research Centre, composed of top historians and leading advocates of cultural development, including the Hon. Mr Kenneth FOK Kai-kong, Member of the Legislative Council; Dr Louis NG, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum; Dr CHAN Man-hung, Honorary Curator of Jao Tsung-I Academy; Prof. Joseph TING Sun-pao, Adjunct Professor of the Department of History at the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Prof. CHENG Pei-kai, former Director of the Chinese Civilisation Centre and Emeritus Professor at City University of Hong Kong; and Prof. Elizabeth SINN, Honorary Professor of the Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Hong Kong. Together with the Advisory Committee Chairman Dr Lam Tai-fai, they will offer guidance and recommendation on the development of the Research Centre.

The research centre will focus on the study of the modern history of China and its social and cultural fabric, as well as the promotion of Chinese history and cultural education. Under the MoU with the Institute of Humanities of Tsinghua University, both parties will collaborate in training teachers, editing teaching materials, conducting thematic research, organising joint seminars, etc, with a view to enhancing academic exchange and promoting Chinese culture together.

Prof. Peng Gang said, “The establishment of the Research Centre is significant not only to PolyU but also to Hong Kong. The Institute of Humanities of Tsinghua University will work with PolyU in initiating a wide range of collaborations, including conducting joint studies on traditional Chinese thought and culture and the modern history of China, fostering the education of Chinese history and culture, co-organising diverse academic exchange activities, and co-editing teaching materials and academic publications.”

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