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HKBU and General Administration of Sport of China jointly launch Master’s Programme in Sports Management to support national elite athletes’ career transition

30 Sep 2026

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Mr Chen Yibing, Representative of the Sports Fund Management Centre of the GASC and Former Member of the Chinese National Gymnastics Team (3rd left, 2nd row); Mr Chen Aisen, Former Member of the Chinese National Diving Team (3rd right, 2nd row); Professor Luo Yin, Elite Talent Project Consultant of Master of Social Sciences in Sports Management (4th left, 3rd row); Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice Chancellor of HKBU (centre, 2nd row); Dr Albert Chau, Vice-President (Teaching and Learning) of HKBU (2nd right, 2nd row); Professor Andrew Kwok Wai-luen, Associate Vice-President (Curriculum and Pedagogies) of HKBU (7th left, 3rd row); Professor Daniel Lai Wing-leung, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of HKBU (6th left, 3rd row); Professor Sandy Li, Director of the Academy of Wellness and Human Development of HKBU (5th left, 3rd row); Professor Patrick Lau, Associate Director (Research) of the Academy of Wellness and Human Development and Programme Director of the Master of Social Sciences in Sports Management of HKBU (7th right, 3rd row); the Hon Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, Member of the Legislative Council (2nd left, 2nd row); Mr Cheng King-leung, Chairman of the Elite Sports Committee (1st left, 2nd row); Mr Yue Kwok-leung, Vice President of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (1sr right, 2nd row) and Dr Luk Tze-chung, Vice President of the China Hong Kong Paralympic Committee (5th right, 3rd row), join other guests and the first cohort of students at the programme’s opening ceremony.
Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, welcomes the first cohort of students at the opening ceremony and expresses gratitude to the GASC for its support.
Mr Yang Jie, Deputy Director of Sports Fund Management Centre of the GASC, delivers a pre-recorded video speech.
Professor Patrick Lau introduces the programme.
Mr Chen Yibing shares his experience of joining Beijing Normal University as a faculty member after retiring from competitive sport, offering encouragement to the first cohort of students.
Mr Chen Aisen shares his plans to pursue a career as a university physical education teacher.
Ms Wang Ziwen (left) says that HKBU offers an international learning environment that will support her future efforts to promote Wushu globally and take part in international sports affairs. Ms Ren Guixin (right) says she hopes to inspire more young people in sport through her own experience.

HKBU has launched the Master of Social Sciences in Sports Management programme in the 2026-27 academic year to provide national elite athletes with opportunities for further studies and support their career transition after retirement.

Jointly organised by HKBU’s Department of Sports and Health Sciences and the Sports Fund Management Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China (GASC), the programme is the first taught master’s programme in Hong Kong specifically designed for national elite athletes. It aims to nurture sports management professionals with expertise and a global outlook, supporting elite athletes in their transition into new careers after retirement, serving in the Chinese Mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Greater Bay Area.

The first cohort comprises 30 elite athletes nominated and sponsored by the Sports Fund Management Centre of the GASC. They have achieved outstanding results in major competitions, including the Olympic Games, Asian Games, World Championships, Asian Championships and National Games. Among them are Ms Ren Guixin, Former Member of the China Women’s National Football Team, and Ms Wang Ziwen, Chinese Wushu athlete.

Integrating theory and practice to nurture sports management talent

The programme’s curriculum covers topics including sports facility and event management, sports marketing, legal, ethical, economic and financial aspects of sports, international sports governance, and organisational behaviour in sports, equipping students with professional knowledge of the sports industry and management. Some courses are taught in English, complemented by a subject-based English enhancement course to strengthen students’ proficiency in sports management and cross-cultural communication. This will support their participation and contribution in international sports affairs. HKBU will also arrange for students to participate in activities, projects and internships with international sports industry and management organisations. These opportunities will expand their professional networks and enable them to gain valuable experience in sports management.

“The completion of the Kai Tak Sports Park reflects Hong Kong’s resolve and potential to develop into a regional hub for major international sporting events. With the nation targeting a total sports industry scale of RMB 7 trillion by 2030, this programme will nurture talent with professional expertise and a global outlook, supporting local sports development and contributing to the national goal of building a sporting powerhouse.” said Professor Patrick Lau, Associate Director (Research) of the Academy of Wellness and Human Development and Programme Director of the Master of Social Sciences in Sports Management at HKBU.

National elite athletes begin a new chapter

Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, welcomed the first cohort of students at the programme’s opening ceremony held on 2 September. He said: “HKBU sincerely thanks the GASC for its support. This programme reflects HKBU’s strong commitment to nurturing high-quality management talent for the rapidly growing global sports industry, and to training elite athletes to serve as China’s representatives in international sports organisations, thereby enhancing China’s voice in the development of sport on the global stage.”

“Establishing a comprehensive, full-lifecycle development system for retired athletes, and helping them transition from achieving success in the sporting arena to making meaningful contributions in industry and society, is an essential foundation for advancing the national talent strategy and building China into a leading sports nation. The Centre will partner with HKBU to support students in their studies and daily life in Hong Kong, as well as their career development and entrepreneurial pursuits,” said Mr Yang Jie, Deputy Director of the Sports Fund Management Centre of the GASC, in a pre-recorded video.

At the opening ceremony, sports professionals also shared their experiences of transitioning from competitive sport to other professional fields. Mr Chen Yibing, Representative of the Sports Fund Management Centre of the GASC, Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Champion and Men’s Still Rings Champion at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, talked about his experience of joining Beijing Normal University as a faculty member after retiring from competitive sport. He encouraged students to seek continuous learning and growth.

Mr Chen Aisen, Double Olympic Champion in the Men’s 10-metre Platform Individual and Synchronised Diving at the Rio 2016 Olympics, shared his plans to pursue a career as a university physical education teacher. He highlighted the importance to keep learning and embrace challenges.

Ms Ren Guixin, student representative, hopes to inspire more young people in sport through her own experience. She looks forward to learning to integrate theory with practice, broadening her international perspective and enhancing her cross-cultural communication skills through the programme. Ms Wang Ziwen, also a student representative, aspires to contribute to promoting Wushu globally and strengthening China’s presence in international sport.