The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has been approved to establish the third medical school in Hong Kong. Professor Fok Tai-Fai, the senior adviser to the President of HKUST, member of the new medical school's preparatory committee, and co-chairman of the Medical Education Task Force said that the preparations are underway intensely with the personnel's great efforts in various aspects, including discussing the details of cooperation with the government, deliberating over the arrangements for teaching hospitals with the Hospital Authority, launching a large-scale global recruitment scheme, covering employing the founding dean, the academic management team, and carrying out the curriculum development, etc. Besides, the construction project for the complex in Clear Water Bay as the interim campus for the new medical school has also been put on schedule.
Professor Fok Tai-Fai, Photo source: reference image
In the eyes of Professor Fok, although HKUST lacks experience in running a medical school, the lack of experience can allow the school team to be "free from burdens" and break out of traditional constraints to seek innovation. As for the curriculum design, he said that the team has visited many places to learn from others. He emphasized that the primary emphases of doctor training should be having clinical strength, medical ethics and professional conduct, and being patient-oriented. Additionally, he added that future doctors ought to embrace technology and know how to use it in order to benefit the public.
HKUST
Professor Fok also said on a radio program that, before the confirmation of HKUST's establishment of the new medical school, dozens of professors had expressed interest in joining the team of HKUST. He believed that more and more local and overseas professors would be willing to participate in the project. As for the current, some renowned medical professors from all over the world have reached out to them proactively, which has given the team great encouragement. Professor Fok emphasized that when they recruit talents, not only academic achievements would be valued, but also medical ethics and personal character.
As for the future teaching hospital, Professor Fok pointed out that the team's discussions are coming to an end, and he hoped the chosen teaching hospital would not be too far from the interim campus in Clear Water Bay. He said that the school would not compel the recruited non-local students to stay and serve in Hong Kong, nor did he think there was such a need. Since the students would study and live in Hong Kong for a long period, during which they will come into contact with local patients, the chances for them to stay and serve in Hong Kong will be quite high. Nevertheless, the school will still respect their personal interests and choices.
The government has announced that the third medical school in Hong Kong will be established by HKUST, saying that HKUST will provide part of the funds for the new medical school through its own resources, including donations, etc., to coordinate with the policy of funding the school establishment in a matching form raised in The Budget. The government will also reserve resources to support the development of the new medical school and provide funding from the University Grants Committee to support the enrollment of students and the school's operation.
Dr Choi Yuk-lin, the Secretary for Education, said that the new medical school will be established in Ngau Tam Mei of Northern Metropolis, enjoying a strategic geographical advantage. Its location will be conducive to carrying out outstanding academic research, promoting collaborative efforts in the Greater Bay Area and other regions, and attracting more students and scholars from home and abroad to study or conduct research in Hong Kong.
When asked about the proportion of non-locals among the 50 students admitted in the first stage, Dr Choi said that the current quota for non-local students in funded universities is 50%. Considering medical education is a special human resources planning discipline, the admission of the new school will be monitored.
As for whether a residence period in Hong Kong will be set for the non-local students and whether the courses will require graduates to understand Cantonese as to communicate with patients, Dr Choi believed that HKUST will take the factor of language into consideration for the course arrangement. In her opinion, after the non-local students come to Hong Kong, they will understand that their main aim is to serve the local medical system and contribute to the medical innovation in Hong Kong.
Dr Choi Yuk-lin, the Secretary for Education, Photo source: reference image
Professor Lo Chung-mau, the Secretary for Health, said that doctors need to have communication skills when facing patients. Since Hong Kong is an international city, the medical personnel are expected to be proficient in Cantonese, English, and Mandarin. At present, the two existing medical schools both have language requirements for student enrollment. When it comes to the third medical school, the school also needs to set some requirements for admission and arrange some courses focusing on the development of language communication skills.
Professor Lo Chung-mau, the Secretary for Health, Photo source: reference image
Professor Lo claimed that the establishment of the third medical school is hoped to bring about healthy competition rather than a vicious one. The strategic positioning of the new medical school will combine medical services and scientific research, aiming to cultivate scientists in the field of medicine. The school will admit students through "second degree" programs, which will help to expand the scope of talent recruitment, such as attracting "first degree" undergraduate graduates from the world's most renowned universities, especially those with a background in biomedicine education.
He also said that although HKUST doesn't offer medical-related education currently, the university still has many strengths in life sciences, artificial intelligence, big data, etc. He hoped that the university could apply such advantages to clinical biomedical sciences in the future.
The new medical school aims to cultivate scientists in the field of medicine, Photo source: reference image
