Located in the heart of Kowloon, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been continuing a tradition of excellence in learning since 1937. The university, formerly known as Hong Kong Polytechnic, received full university status in 1994 and today proudly boasts a student population of more than 28,000.

With a mission to provide high quality education, PolyU offers a wide variety of programmes designed to meet industrial, commercial and community needs in an attempt to prepare their students for the challenges that they are bound to encounter in their careers. These programmes are considered to be among the finest in Asia and work rigorously towards honing the skills of their students. It is no wonder then that over the years Hong Kong Polytechnic University has groomed more than 284,000 graduates – many of whom are leaders in their fields.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

Pic: PolyU.

Academics
A university that has long been recognised for its contribution to the knowledge and expertise of Hong Kong in the form of its graduates and the research that it conducts, PolyU offers an exciting selection of programmes for its students. The university is well known for art and design programmes that train its students in creativity, diversity and innovation.

Full-time undergraduate programmes are tailored towards a BA (Hons) in Design, Digital Media, Fashion and Textiles among others; part-time undergraduate programmes include Art and Design in Education, Fashion Retailing, Fashion and Clothing, Fashion and Textile Merchandising, Fashion and Textile Studies. Postgraduate programmes are offered in Chinese Culture, Design, Fashion and Textile Design, Fashion and Textiles, and more.

Art & Design
PolyU School of Design is a leading school of design that leads Asian innovation, producing the brightest minds in the field. Committed to sustaining excellence in design education and practice, the School of Design brings together the dynamism of Asian cultures to create a pool of talented minds working towards society’s needs.

With more than 1,200 students, this is the only institution to offer design education in the form of higher education in Hong Kong. Undergraduate programmes offer specialisations in the fields of Advertising Design, Environment and Interior Design, Industrial and Product Design and Visual Communication Design. Degrees and diplomas are also available in Digital Media, Multimedia Design and Technology and Product Innovation Technologies. Postgraduate degrees are available in Design Education, Design Practice, Design Strategies, Interaction Design, Urban Environments Design and Multimedia and Entertainment Technology.

PolyU Design was ranked in the top 60 design schools in the world in 2006 and 2007, according to a one-of-a-kind survey of design schools and design programmes led by BusinessWeek. It has also been rated in the top three design schools in China.

In 2009, PolyU Design was judged one of the top 30 design schools with its Master of Design programme rated amongst the world’s 30 best “design thinking programs”, according to BusinessWeek. This School has a history of excellence and an education here would guarantee the perfect launch pad for a career in design.

PolyU is also introducing a new four-year undergraduate curriculum from 2012. This specialised training is an exciting opportunity for students that will not just educate them through theory and practice, but holistically, in order to help them achieve their goals and become leaders in their chosen specialist fields. PolyU calls this set of students the “practical dreamers” of tomorrow – those who can serve society and help change it for the better.

The new curriculum can be essentially divided into two distinctive levels of training – preparing students for success in their chosen professions and nurturing students into becoming active global citizens.

Preparation for success is achieved by means of an intensive orientation, strengthening language and communication skills and mandatory work-integrated education (WIE), enriching student experience, and developing entrepreneurial and innovative problem-solving skills.

This new curriculum is available to students wishing to further their education in Design, Fashion and Textiles, Humanities and Social Sciences amongst a range of other fields.

Why PolyU?
There are several reasons to choose PolyU for higher education. The university is located in the pulsating city of Hong Kong – a gateway to the Chinese mainland. Its location offers its students the exciting possibilities of not just travelling within China but across the diverse landscape of Asia.  The city is a melting pot of cultures and the diversity it offers is unparalleled.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

Pic: PolyU.

PolyU is the largest publically funded tertiary institution in Hong Kong and in line with the city’s diversity, the university boasts of an international student community of over 1,000, representing 40 countries. Furthermore, many of the university’s 1,200 staff are recruited from oversees making this a truly international experience.

PolyU proudly hosts some of the most advanced facilities with cutting-edge technical amenities. Its ‘Innovation Tower’ has been designed by Zaha Hadid and will be built this year, symbolising the interdisciplinary research and design education that is brought together at Asia’s design hub in Hong Kong.

The university hosts six faculties and two schools, with programmes structured to focus on application and industrial relevance: Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles, Faculty of Business, Faculty of Construction and Land Use, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, School of Design and School of Hotel and Tourism Management.

Studying at PolyU is an exciting opportunity to truly grasp the flavour of Asia and involve this experience in an educational experience. Life at PolyU balances a quality education with an inspiring campus life where there is never a dull moment. With wide-ranging activities on offer to suit every palate, there is a true exchange of cultures and experiences. The university’s outstanding achievements and global presence, with a network of more than 560 collaborations with institutes across 40 countries, are reflected in its tireless work to bring out the true potential of every student and prepare them for the challenges that they might face in their future career.

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