Dear Fellow Students,
Updates to Students from the College Management
Subsequent to the issue of Updates from the College Management in mid-May as a follow-up on the WE Forum held on 6 May 2019, both the management and faculty have been fully engaged in attending to different College businesses. For some departments/offices, the last few months have been very hectic indeed. As we are about to commence our new academic year, we find it an opportune time to furnish you with an update on some of the major progress of work.
Learning Programme Development
In June 2019, a new higher diploma (HD) in Christian Ministry was successfully accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications. Together with the other two HDs approved earlier (one in Transformative Business Management and another one in Psychology and Counselling) and the existing one in Early Childhood Education, there will be four HD programmes on offer in September 2019. To accommodate the needs of different learners, the College will be introducing part-time study mode and evening classes for some programmes. At degree level, the College will implement a strategic measure of Year 3 entry across the board to respond to the needs for articulation from sub-degree graduates or learners with relevant prior education.
In the same reported period, staff strengths have also been strategically deployed to develop two new bachelor’s degree programmes, one of which is in ECE as a commitment of the College to provide direct articulation path for our HDECE graduates. The other one is in Christian Ministry as a destination of further study for graduates of the above-mentioned HD in Christian Ministry Programme. These two new degree programmes will begin to take shape in coming months with the concerted efforts of the Programme Planning Committees.
More Gratians on Campus
With more learning programmes on offer and efforts made in programme promotion, the College has received better response from the market in student recruitment in comparison with the corresponding period of last academic year. Though the intake figures are yet to be finalized, we anticipate that a slight increase in student population in 2019/20 is possible and hope for a better picture in operation income to support funding of the College in the coming years.
An Improved Place to Work
Apart from having a bigger Gratia community in coming September, we are also having a better place to work. Renovation work was undertaken in the past few weeks to improve the staff rooms and accommodate more colleagues. You may wish to note that some colleagues, especially those of the Finance Office and the Student Development Office, have been relocated to Room 301.
Graduation Ceremony 2019
Last but not the least, we would like to share with you that preparation work is in full swing for the Graduation Ceremony scheduled for the afternoon on 15 November 2019. With students graduating from all five learning programmes together for the first time, the College is pleased to have invited Mr Chan Mo-po, Paul, Financial Secretary, to officiate at the Ceremony.
Before we end our updates, let us reiterate that the management welcome opportunities to enhance your better understanding of Gratia’s operation and development as an important stakeholder of the College. We look forward to sharing further updates on the College with you in coming future!
With best wishes!
College Management