Press Release
HKBU establishes partnership with Hong Kong Baptist Hospital and garners support from Baptist Convention of Hong Kong and world-renowned medical educator for its new medical school proposal
Tuesday, 11 February 2025
Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has established a strategic partnership with Hong Kong Baptist Hospital (HKBH) in its proposal to establish a new medical school. HKBU has also garnered support from the Baptist Convention of Hong Kong (BCHK) and world-renowned medical educator Professor Ronald M Harden for the new medical school’s establishment.
Under the strategic partnership, HKBH will serve as one of the primary teaching hospitals during and beyond the interim period should HKBU’s new medical school proposal be endorsed by the Government’s Task Group on New Medical School.
The Task Group has indicated that the approved university will be allowed to engage public hospitals managed by the Hospital Authority (HA) as clinical teaching sites. The strategic partnership with HKBH will allow students at HKBU’s proposed medical school to gain clinical experience in both the public and private hospital settings, which is an important innovation in HKBU’s medical education. The partnership with HKBH will go beyond the completion of the new integrated hospital in the Northern Metropolis, which is projected to be the permanent teaching hospital by 2034.
HKBH, closely affiliated with and has the same membership as BCHK, is a premier healthcare institution in Hong Kong offering comprehensive medical services across various specialties and subspecialities on patient-centred care. With a capacity of over 680 beds and a dedicated team of more than 2,100 staff, the hospital provides a wide range of clinical resources and expertise. The partnership will present invaluable clinical training opportunities for medical students, and foster a practical learning environment that bridges theoretical knowledge with real-world medical practice.
Dr Eddie Ho Kang-wai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of HKBH, said: “We are excited about the innovative medical education approach proposed by HKBU and are delighted to work together by providing our hospital as one of the teaching institutions for the medical students who will be admitted into this new medical school. We will also explore different ways to collaborate in medical research in conjunction with the other committed institutions to foster medical advancements in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.”
HKBU is also delighted to gain the support of BCHK in establishing a new medical school. Founded in 1938, BCHK is a prominent religious organisation dedicated to promoting spiritual growth, community service, and holistic well-being. It has supported various educational and healthcare initiatives, reflecting its commitment to improving the quality of life for individuals and communities. BCHK’s involvement in the new medical school, which is dedicated to enhancing the healthcare of Hong Kong citizens and fostering research for the betterment of human health, is perfectly in line with BCHK’s long-standing mission to serve the community.
“We are excited about HKBU’s new medical school proposal, which aims to train Western medicine doctors with integrated knowledge from Chinese medicine. Given that Chinese medicine is utilised by 60 to 75% of the Hong Kong, Chinese and other Asian populations, training this new breed of doctors will not only benefit patients in Hong Kong and Mainland China but also bridge the gap between Chinese and Western medicine, an essential step for global health advancements. Our church commission is dedicated to serving society and humanity, including contributing to healthcare practices that may have a global impact,” said Rev Eric Tong Wing Mun, Chairman of BCHK.
Furthermore, HKBU is pleased to have engaged the world-renowned medical educator Professor Ronald M Harden, a leading international expert in the field. He is the original inventor of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in 1975, an assessment tool used by every medical institution worldwide. He was former General Secretary of The Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE). He is also a former long-standing Editor-in-Chief of the journal Medical Teacher.
Professor Harden will serve as chief advisor on HKBU’s medical curriculum development, which will prioritise innovation while ensuring compliance with the standards of the Hong Kong Medical Council. Through a carefully structured programme and a focus on competency-based education alongside research opportunities, HKBU will create an attractive and dynamic educational experience that prepares students for successful careers in medicine and encourages their future engagement in meaningful research endeavours. The curriculum will nurture a new and innovative generation of medical doctors and clinician-scientists.
Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, emphasised: “The engagement of HKBH and BCHK is crucial for the success of our new medical school. Having HKBH in our alliance as one of the primary teaching hospitals is extremely valuable for medical students to gain experience in both public and private settings. Together with our other partners’ extensive clinical resources, expertise, state-of-the-art facilities, a diverse patient population, and a commitment to holistic education and services, we can provide a world-class medical education that not only meets the highest academic standards but also instils ethical and compassionate values in our future healthcare professionals. We will be announcing the research plan of our new medical school very soon."
Professor Manson Fok and Professor Lee Sum Ping, Co-Chairmen of HKBU’s Preparatory Committee for the New Medical School, jointly stated: “Our collaboration with The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University and its Nansha Division, HKBH and other partners will provide HKBU’s new medical school with access to nearly 10,000 hospital beds, providing invaluable clinical resources for both medical education and clinical research.
“By leveraging the strengths of our partners and our ongoing efforts in engaging top-notch experts globally, HKBU’s new medical school is well positioned to offer a comprehensive, whole-person medical education programme that emphasises both academic excellence and practical experience. Together with the HA hospital network, we have lined up ample clinical resources for the medical students since the launch of the medical school. We will also have substantial resources earmarked for clinical research which, in conjunction with the two existing medical schools, will bring Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area to a new level of medical advancement.
Professor Fok and Professor Lee continued, “We are also thrilled to have engaged Professor Ronald Harden, a medical education visionary, to advise the Preparatory Committee on its curriculum development. We plan to work with the two existing medical schools in following the progress of our medical students and our combined effort will help to develop the best medical education suitable for Hong Kong and Mainland China within the next decade.”
About Hong Kong Baptist Hospital (HKBH) As a Christian hospital, HKBH strives to honour God by serving the needy with love and compassion. To accomplish its mission “In the Service of Man, for the Glory of God”, HKBH stresses the importance of providing holistic care in which one’s physical, emotional, and well-being aspects are being taken care of. Its medical centres have also been serving the community with the highest quality of services and healthcare. While fulfilling its corporate social responsibility to the fullest extent through offering free medical check-ups and involvement in other non-profit making charitable projects, it advocates health education and benevolence for the total benefit of the society. With ongoing development in a range of services and investments in technologies, HKBH now offers more than 30 Medical Centres and Paramedical Services, 24-hour Out-patient Clinic, Orthopedic Out Patient Specialist Clinic, and other specialist clinics. HKBH is currently home to more than 2,100 staff and over 680 beds. Source: Extracted from https://www.hkbh.org.hk/about-us/about-hkbh/?lang=en |
About Baptist Convention of Hong Kong (BCHK) The mission of BCHK is to connect and serve all Baptist churches in Hong Kong, adhering to biblical teachings, nurturing and equipping believers, utilising spiritual gifts, training contemporary workers, promoting church growth, and spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. Through education, medical, and social services, BCHK serves diverse communities, witnesses God's love, and glorifies the Lord's name. Over the years, BCHK has upheld its mission and integrated three key areas of development:
Source: Extracted and translated from https://www.hkbaptist.org.hk/%e9%97%9c%e6%96%bc%e6%b5%b8%e8%81%af%e6%9c%83/%e4%bd%bf%e5%91%bd%e3%80%81%e7%b6%93%e8%a8%93/ |
About Professor Ronald M. Harden Ronald Harden (Professor, PhD, Author, OBE, MD, FRCP (GLAS.), FRCS (ED.), FRCPC) graduated from medical school in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He completed training and practiced as an endocrinologist before moving full time to medical education. He is Professor of Medical Education (Emeritus), University of Dundee, Editor of Medical Teacher, and was General Secretary and Treasurer of AMEE – An International Association for Medical Education. Professor Harden has pioneered ideas in medical education, including:
He has published more than 400 papers in leading journals. He is co-editor of A Practical Guide for Medical Teachers, now in its 6th edition, and the Routledge International Handbook of Medical Education. He is co-author of Essential Skills for a Medical Teacher: An introduction to Learning and Teaching in Education, The Definitive Guide to the OSCE, and The Eight Roles of the Medical Teacher. Professor Harden’s contributions to excellence in medical education have attracted numerous international awards, including:
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