社會新聞編輯推介

樹仁大學視乎疫情公布開學安排

樹仁大學副校監胡懷中向師生發信,指過去一個星期疫情變得嚴峻,校方會持續審視相關安排,準備不同的應變方案,並視乎情況在適當時候公布。

全文如下:

胡懷中副校監致樹仁仝人書

致各位同學及教職員:

中學文憑試7月22日放榜,大學迎來了一年當中行政工作最為繁忙的收生季。在前所未有的新冠肺炎疫情挑戰下,樹仁仝人做好收生工作。截至星期六,我們共收到超過4,231名本地學生的入學申請,比較去年3,620人申請,增幅達百分之17。在本地學生數目持續下跌,以至疫情及各項社會環境挑戰的背景下,如此成績得來不易,令人欣喜。

在此,我要衷心感謝各位同學和教職員,在過去一年與我們一起守護校園,締造了讓更多後輩學子嚮往的學習環境。

在疫情下,教職員非常辛勞,不少仝工反映,準備網上教學的功夫要比面授更多,教學難度也更大。不過,教育是終生事業,教與學的工作不會隨學年結束而終結,新學年我們仍然要繼續努力,精益求精。

新冠肺炎持續威脅公眾健康,註冊處早前已公佈2020/21學年開課的各項防疫措施,希望在保障師生安全及健康的同時,逐步恢復正常的校園生活。過去一個星期疫情變得嚴峻,我們會持續審視相關安排,準備不同的應變方案,並視乎情況在適當時候公布。

疫情影響廣泛,社會經濟呈現不景氣。我們明白同學或會面對財政方面的困難。大學現正仔細檢視獎學金助學金安排,希望更善用資源協助同學。大家倘若在學習和生活上遇上各種難題,務請聯絡學生事務處,我們將盡力提供協助。

作為香港第一所私立大學,學費是讓我們持續獨立運作的重要支柱。過去半世紀,樹仁辦學一直克勤節儉。由當年在寶馬山籌建校舍到今日應對疫情挑戰,面對無數困難,縱使資源有限,樹仁人從不輕易言棄、迎難而上。我們希望同學知道,學校絕不會吝惜投放在同學身上的資源。這個暑假,我們繼續翻新教學大樓,邵美珍堂的維修改善工程也在較早前竣工。此外,校方在網上教學也投放了很多資源,亦將會為教授講師們舉辦工作坊,令課堂更具效率。我們亦不斷添置圖書館藏及其他額外資源。舉凡對學習有增益的,我們都願意為同學籌謀。

無論疫情下辦學如何艱難,最重要的是,樹仁在教學質素和學術水準方面,絕不妥協。基於防疫需要,雖然校園在過去一年只對外有限度開放,但圖書館、學生宿舍及其他教學設施仍照常為同學服務及供同學使用,各個行政和教學部門亦保持運作。我們竭力讓教學如常,無論病毒如何將我們阻隔,課堂形式如何改變,應該要上的課堂繼續上,應該評核的繼續評核。

在可見的將來,預計困難挑戰依然不少。期待新學期再會,共同努力,共勉之。

胡懷中

(以下為英文版)

Letter from the Deputy President, Dr. Fai Chung HU

Dear Students and Staff,

Following the release of the HKDSE results on 22 July, the University is embracing the new admission season, and with that, the busiest period of the year in terms of administrative work. Despite the unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, our colleagues have made every effort in student recruitment. As of Saturday, we have received applications from 4,231 local students, an increase of 17% compared to 3,620 applicants last year. Against a backdrop of the continued decline in the number of local students, coupled with the impact of the pandemic and various social challenges, these recruitment results are not easy to come by, and they are definitely encouraging.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all students and teaching staff for safeguarding the campus with us in the past year and creating a learning environment that students of the next generation will yearn for.

During the pandemic, our teaching staff has put in a lot of hard work, with many colleagues noting that online teaching is more challenging and requires more preparation than face-to-face teaching. That said, education is a lifelong career, and we must continue to work hard and strive for excellence in the new academic year.

As COVID-19 continues to pose a threat to public health, the Registry has announced various pandemic prevention measures for the 2020/21 academic year. The primary aim is to gradually restore normal campus operations while ensuring the safety and health of our teaching staff and students. And as we have seen an escalation of the pandemic in the past week, the University will continue to review relevant arrangements and prepare various contingency and announce them as the situation evolves.

With the economic downturn amid the pandemic, we understand that some students may face financial difficulties. The University will review the current scholarship and bursary arrangements and identify opportunities for improvement. If students encounter any problems in their studies or personal life, please contact the Office of Student Affairs and we will try our best to provide assistance.

As the first private university in Hong Kong, tuition fees are the main source of funding for the continued independent operation of the University. Over the past half century, the University has adhered to the principles of diligence and thrift. From the founding of the campus in Braemar Hill in the 1970s through to the pandemic we face today, the people of HKSYU have always risen to the challenge despite limited resources and no matter how difficult the situation is. We hope that you will understand that the University will never spare any resources we dedicate to our students. This summer, we will continue to renovate the Academic Building, just as we will continue to enrich the library collections and other teaching resources. These improvements will add to the maintenance and enhancement project of Lady Lily Shaw Hall which is now fully completed. Anything that is beneficial to learning, we will pursue it for our students.

Above all, no matter how difficult it is to operate the University under the pandemic, we will never compromise on the quality of teaching and academic standards. Although the campus has only been able to provide restricted services to the public in the past year, the library building, student dormitories and other teaching facilities have remained open and available to students, and our administration and teaching departments have been operating as usual. Similarly we have tried our best to maintain teaching activities. No matter how the pandemic will unfold, or how the teaching format changes, classes and evaluations will continue, as they should be.

While we anticipate difficulties and challenges to remain in the foreseeable future, I very much look forward to seeing you again in the new semester. Let us continue to encourage each other in our endeavours.

Fai Chung HU