Tsz Kong University
The University of Tsz Kong is a public research university in Tsz Kong. It opened in 1875 as the Tsz Kong Government Medical College, before being formally founded as the University of Tsz Kong in 1909. It has a total student population of 34,300.
History
In 1873, the medical expatriate community petitioned the colonial government to create a medical college to educate the population in hopes of improving the quality of life in the colony. This led to the formation of the Tsz Kong Government Medical College, which would be incorporated into University of Tsz Kong in 1909. The move was spearheaded by Governor William Lupton who wished to make the colony a more useful asset to both the British and French in Asia, believing that this would begin a movement of modern universities based on the European model in the region. The university would open with 3 faculties: Arts, Engineering and Medicine, with other faculties being added over time. Although it opened as an all-male institution, women would be allowed admission in 1921. Sun Yatsen would make a visit to the university in 1923, shortly after visiting HKU.
Although TKU didn't see the same amount of revolutionaries as HKU, there was still a lot of revolutionary activity on campus, with the Tsz Kong solidarity strikes, held in support of the 1925-1926 Canton-HK strikes, greatly affecting the campus. This would also led to the intergration of more Chinese-based courses at the university. The Faculty of Sciences would also be established in 1933.
The campus was damaged in WW2, though thanks to funding it would reopen by March 1946. Over the years, the campus would expand in size as it made use of its land, as well as acquiring some from nearby estates. The Faculty of Social Sciences would be established in 1955, the Faculty of Law in 1959, the Faculty of Architecture in 1968, the Faculty of Education in 1982, the Faculty of Economics in 1998, the Faculty of Dentistry in 2003, and the Faculty of Computer & AI Science in 2031.
Campus
Main Building
Built between 1907 and 1909, the building is a mix of French and British early 20th century architecture and is the oldest building on campus. An extension of the building was made in 1934, with a further courtyard extension in 1953. The building was declared a Protected Monument in 1989.
Hutchinson Building
Built in 1973, the Hutchinson Building serves as the main building for both the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Architecture. It is 9 floors tall, with a small extension building which houses a large theater, meant for large-scale lectures and events.
Renault Building
Built in 1988, this building was sponsored by French company Renault. This building replaced the old Fanshaw Building as the home for the Faculty of Engineering. The building is 12 floors tall, and includes a canteen on the basement and ground floors.
Darren Cheung Building
Built in 1982, the Darren Cheung Building was named after famous industrialist Darren Cheung, who was the head of Yeung Woo: a shipping company that dominated the shipping industry in Tsz Kong between the 1950s and 2000s. It currently houses a myriad of departments from different faculties and is 10 floors tall.
Tang Yeung Kin Building & Wong Wu Ching Building
Built in 1983, ithese two buildings are consiedered "brothers" to the Darren Cheung Building, in that they are both built in a similar style to the Darren Cheung Buidling, while serving the same purpose. However, they are coloured differently and is only 5 floors tall, excluding the three basement floors.
Library Complex
The Library Complex was built in 1984 to replace the old library building, which was built in 1946 but was demolished in 1981. The complex features a large courtyard surrounded on 2 sides by the library, which is split into two main sections connected by a bridge. The building is 6 floors tall.
Mo Chuen Lai Building
Named after billionaire businessman Mo Chuen Lai, this 7-floor tall building is the home of the Faculty of Sciences. Built in 1986, it is the most far-western building on campus.
Chan Kwai Ting Building
Named after famous Tsz Kong author Chan Kwai Ting, this 11-floor tall building is the home of the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Northern Complex
The Northern Complex was built in 1983, replacing the old Composite Buildings that were built in 1956. They were the home of the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Education. However, only the Faculty of Law remains in the complex.
Horizons Campus
Built in 2013, the Horizons Campus is not just the home of the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Education, but is meant to host classrooms for various faculties, with the exception of the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Dentistry.
Medicine Campus
Built in phases between 1988 and 1997, the Medicine Campus is located near the coast, away from the main campus, though there is a long walkway connecting the two as well as a shuttle bus service. The Medicine Campus is the home of the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Dentistry.
Academics
Teaching & Learning
Most undergraduate courses are 4-year degrees while the medical programmes require two and one more year(s) of studies respectively. English is the main medium of instruction, and the University's Senate has endorsed English as the campus lingua franca. Starting from 2018, local students are required to take Academic English courses and Chinese language enhancement courses; however, students who are native-speakers of languages other than Chinese, and students who have not studied Chinese language in their secondary curriculum can be exempted from the Chinese course requirement.
Student Life
Halls
There are 15 halls in total:
Long Zhu Hall, Lotus Hall, Blue Phoenix Hall, Jade Hall, Ridge Hall, Emerald Hall, Sunrise Hall, Harmony Hall, Sapphire Hall, Tai Ying Hall, Fu Shing Hall, Rose Hall, Oceanview Hall, Skyline Hall and Jardine Hall.
Student Union
The Tsz Kong University Student Union is the officially recognized undergraduate students' association of the University of Tsz Kong, founded in 1910 and registered under the Societies' Ordinance.
The Council of the Union is comprised of 35 directly elected seats, and 28 appointed seats: 15 of which are filled by the Hall Students' Associations, 11 by the Faculty Societies, and 2 appointed seats by the university administration.
Transportation
Buses are provided by Joyful Bus throughout the halls and the campus.