Our History
1910s - 1930s
1911
1916
1917
1931
1932
1939 | The University of Hong Kong opened formally with 71 students.
The Department of Education (for teacher training) launched in the Arts Faculty of HKU.
Opening of the “Department for the Training of Teachers” within the Arts Faculty of HKU on September 15, 1917.
Courses designed specifically for undergraduates intending to be school teachers.
Establishment of the Free Night School for poor neglected children by members of HKU Education Society.
Four University trained teachers posted to the Junior Technical School.
One-year postgraduate Diploma course offered. | 
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1940s - 1960s
1942-51
1944
1948
1951
1953
1955
1956
1957
1958
1962
1964
| Due to the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong, no section of the University was entrusted with responsibility for teacher education.
Rebirth of a Department of Education in the University’s Faculty of Arts in 1951.
HKU continued to provide limited numbers of graduates to become teachers but these had to take a postgraduate course in teaching at the Northcote Training College.
UK House of Commons announced that HKU was to be restored to its 1940 position.
Department of Education reopened – some classes held at Northcote Training College.
The revival of the HKU Education Society and re-establishment of its Free Evening School in the same year.
Arts Faculty approved proposals for the Master of Arts in Education, MA(Ed).
Bursary scheme to train teachers started at HKU (about a fifth of the approximately 50 students of teacher training on bursary).
The first part-time (in-service) Certificate in Education programme launched in the Department of Education.
Child Guidance Centres in the Department of Education.
The first Certificate programme was offered identical to the Diploma programme.
The first MA(Ed) awarded by the Department of Education.
Hong Kong Council for Education Research was established under the Department.
Students accepted into the full-time, day course studied for the Diploma and those who chose to do the part-time, evening course studied for the Certificate in Education. |
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1970s - 1990s
1975
1976
1978
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
| The first Master of Philosophy in Education (MPhil) awarded.
Diploma in Education renamed Certificate in Education.
Conversion of the Department of Education within the Arts Faculty into an autonomous School of Education, with effect from September 1, 1976.
Special course-related committees, known as “Programme Committees”, were established, together with an overarching Academic Committee. The first Programme Committee was to deal with Certificate in Education affairs.
Master of Education (MEd) first run by the School of Education.
The School of Education became a Faculty composed of the Department of Education and the Department of Professional Studies on July 1, 1984. The Faculty moved to the Runme Shaw Building in September.
Sir Edward Youde opened the Run Run Shaw Podium and associated buildings which have housed the Faculty of Education since 1984.
On November 7, 1985, the Faculty’s contributions to continuing professional development were formalised through the creation of an In-service Teacher Education Programme Committee (INSTEP).
The first Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Education awarded on November 14, 1985.
HKU participated in a three-year international study on pre-school children, organised by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA).
Certificate in Education renamed Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PCEd).
Creation of the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences within the Faculty of Education from July 1, 1988. Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), BSc(SPEECH), commenced.
Bachelor of Education (BEd) started.
Bachelor of Education in Children with Learning Difficulties (Part-time), BEd(PT-CWLD), started. MEd increased to a wide range of specialisations in new areas.
From July 1, 1992, the Physical Education and Sport Science Unit (PESSU) joined the Faculty of Education.
Bachelor of Education in Primary/Secondary Education (Part-time), BEd(PT-P/S Ed), Bachelor of Education in Physical Education and Sports Science (Part-time), BEd(PT-PESS), all started.
The Teachers of English Language Education Centre (TELEC) was set up.
Bachelor of Education in Language Education, BEd(LangEd), commenced.
Setting up of the Comparative Education Research Centre (CERC).
Bachelor of Education (Primary Education), BEd(Primary Ed), started.
Commissioned to research and evaluate the first phase of the Government’s Target Oriented Curriculum.
Establishment of The Hong Kong Putonghua Education and Assessment Centre (HKPEAC).
Master of Science in Audiology, MSc(Audiology), started.
Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics, MA(Applied Linguistics), commenced by the English Centre.
Establishment of the Centre for Educational Leadership (CEL), the Support Centre for Teachers Using Chinese as the Medium of Instruction (CMI), the Centre for Information Technology in Education (CITE) and the Wah Ching Centre of Research on Education in China (CREC).
The School University Partnership Project commenced, funded by Hong Kong Government’s Quality Education Fund (QEF), involving more than 100 schools.
Opening up of the Standard Chartered Hearing Centre in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences.
Master of Science in Sports Science, MSc(Sports Science), introduced. | 
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2000s - Present
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2009
2010
2011
2012
2014
2016
2017
2019
2022
2020
2024
| Master of Science in Information and Technology Education, MSc(ITE), and Bachelor of Science in Sports Science and Leisure Management, BSc(SSLM), introduced.
Bachelor of Education – Information Technology in Education (Part-time), BEd(PT-ITE), and Bachelor of Education in Library and Information Science (Part-time), BEd(PT-LIS), introduced.
The Faculty of Education became a unitary Faculty with effect from September 1, 2002. The Departments of Curriculum Studies, Education, and Speech and Hearing Sciences were dissolved. The Physical Education and Sports Science Unit merged with the Centre for Physical Education to form the Institute of Human Performance.
Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Educational Studies (PCAES), and Doctor of Education (EdD) introduced.
Establishment of the Centre for Advancement of Chinese Language Education and Research (CACLER) and the Centre for Advancement in Special Education (CASE).
Master of Science in Library and Information Management, MSc(LIM), introduced. Formation of Hong Kong University Education Alumni Association (HKUEdAA).
Establishment of the Centre for Communication Disorders (CCD).
Opening of the Anita Mui Educational Technology Room.
Bachelor of Science in Information Management, BSc(IM), and Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education in Language Education (English), BA&BEd(LangEd-Eng), introduced.
Bachelor of Education in Language Education – Primary and Junior Secondary Chinese, BEd(CHIN), Bachelor of Education in Language Education – Primary English, BEd(ENG), and Bachelor of Education (Liberal Studies), BEd(LibSt), introduced.
Restructuring of the Faculty from 6 Divisions (namely Education Psychology, Special Education and Guidance; Information and Technology Studies; Langauge and Literature; Policy, Administration and Social Sciences Education; Science, Mathematics and Computing; and Speech and Hearing Sciences) to 7 Divisions (namely Chinese Language and Literature; English Language Education; Information and Technology Studies; Learning, Development and Diversity; Policy, Administration and Social Sciences Education; Science, Mathematics and Computing; and Speech and Hearing Sciences).
Formation of The Hong Kong University Education Faculty Research Degrees Alumni Association (HKUEdRDAA).
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education in Language Education – Chinese, BA&BEd(LangEd)-Chin, Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science, BEd&BSc, and Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Social Sciences, BEd&BSocSc (double degree programmes) launched for HKDSE students.
Centre for Advancement in Special Education (CASE) renamed as Centre for Advancement in Inclusive and Special Education (CAISE).
INSTEP commissioned by the Govenment Education Bureau (EDB) to conduct courses in response to the Medium of Instruction (MOI) Fine Tuning Policy.
Conferment of UNESCO Chair in Comparative Education on Professor Mark Bray.
Formation of Education Policy Unit (EPU).
Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, MA(TESOL), launched for postgraduate students.
Celebration of the Faculty Pearl Jubilee.
Bachelor of Science in Applied Child Development, BSc(ACD), introduced.
Celebration of the centenary of teacher education at HKU.
Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education and Special Education, BEd(ECE&SE), introduced.
Restructuring of the Faculty from 7 Divisions to 3 Academic Units (namely Teacher Education and Learning Leadership; Social Contexts and Policies of Education; and Human Communication, Development, and Information Sciences).
HKU was ranked first globally in the 2022-2023 Best Global Universities for Education and Educational Research, published by the global authority in education rankings U.S. News & World Report.
Establishment of the Consortium for Research on Early Childhood Development and Education (CORE).
Restructuring of the Faculty from 3 Academic Units into 4 Academic Units (namely Language and Literacy Education; Human Communication, Learning, and Development; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; and Social Contexts and Policies of Education).
HKU was once again ranked World Number 1 for Education and Educational Research in the 2024-2025 Best Global Universities subject rankings by U.S. News & World Report. |
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