In 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) was established on the foundations of Chung Chi College, New Asia College, and United College. With a mission 'to Combine Tradition with Modernity, and to Bring together China and the West', and guided by the motto 'Through Learning and Temperance to Virtue', CUHK has consistently championed a holistic approach to education that marries moral and intellectual development.
CUHK's narrative began against the humble settings of the 1950s, where it valiantly surmounted myriad adversities to carve its destiny. The transformative 1960s saw the institution evolve from a consortium of colleges to a unified university, heralding a future replete with potential. The subsequent two decades witnessed judicious restructuring, and vigorous growth of the University. By the 1990s, and with the dawn of the millennium, CUHK had notably extended its academic influence, marking a pioneering move as the first institution in Hong Kong to admit students from the Chinese Mainland, thus deepening bonds with educational establishments across the border.
Furthering this heritage, CUHK resolved to plant its mission deeper into the homeland. In late 2009, the University Council formed a task force dedicated to the feasibility of building a mainland campus, under the proviso that it would match the high standards of CUHK's curriculum. Following extensive research and discussions, CUHK-Shenzhen was officially established in March 2014 with the approval of the Ministry of Education.
Transcending six decades in an ever-transforming world landscape, CUHK has matured from its nascent stage, nestled in the lush hills by Tolo Harbour, into a distinguished beacon of higher education for the 21st century. It has also become a cradle for leaders whose academic and research pursuits have made lasting impressions on society and the wider world.
"Six decades of combining the East and the West to craft a world-class academic institution; ten years of striving to pass on the torch and cultivate talents for the nation." In 2023, CUHK celebrated its diamond jubilee, and not far from Shatin, CUHK-Shenzhen will greet its own decennial at Longgang in the spring of 2024.
Over the past decade, CUHK-Shenzhen has not only embraced CUHK's esteemed educational philosophy but also integrated it into Shenzhen's thriving landscape. The University has utilized the synergy between Shenzhen and Hong Kong to leap in quality education, as well as to pioneer trailblazing initiatives in talent recruitment, college development, innovation, international collaboration, and community engagement. As a result, it has emerged as a benchmark for integrated development within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Its educational successes have gained widespread recognition, positioning it at the forefront of Chinese-foreign higher education initiatives and contributing to China's higher education reform.
With fervour in its heart and a vision spanning centuries, CUHK-Shenzhen seeks to build a legacy of distinction and a conscience for eternity. Moving forward, it will continue to mould a paragon of Chinese-foreign educational cooperation, recognised for its prime student community, exceptional faculty, formidable research capabilities, and extensive international partnerships. Amidst the motherland's rapid ascent, the University will stand tall and resolute, tirelessly advancing towards its mission of becoming a world-class university.
In this new historical epoch, CUHK and CUHK-Shenzhen will continue to forge ahead, fostering an unparalleled synergy that will sculpt a thriving and mutually beneficial future.