Lingnan University and Hong Kong Sports Institute sign MOU to foster dual career pathways for elite athletes

  • Faculty/Programme News

Issue No. 83 Dec 2018

Lingnan University and Hong Kong Sports Institute sign MOU to foster dual career pathways for elite athletes

On 2 November, Lingnan University and the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further boost the substantial support to full-time elite athletes in facilitating their planning on dual career development both in sports and in academics.

 

The MOU was signed by Dr Trisha LEAHY, BBS, Chief Executive of the HKSI and Prof Leonard K CHENG, BBS, JP, President of Lingnan University, and witnessed by Mr YEUNG Tak-Keung, JP, Commissioner for Sports, Prof Joshua MOK Ka-Ho, Vice-President of Lingnan University and Mrs Jenny FUNG MA Kit-Han, BBS, JP, Vice-Chairman of the HKSI.

 

Under the MOU, the HKSI may nominate full-time elite scholarship athletes to enroll in the academic programmes at Lingnan University including undergraduate degree and postgraduate programmes as well as higher diploma and associate degree programmes at Lingnan Institute of Further Education (LIFE). To accommodate intensive trainings and competition schedules of athlete students, the University provides flexibility in curriculum delivery, empowering them to attend full-time trainings as well as local and overseas competitions.  Lingnan also offers rooms on extensibility of study and graduation timeline on a case-by-case basis. Individualised mentor support on both academic advice and career planning will also be available for each admitted elite athlete.

 

In his address, President Cheng mentioned that Lingnan University has supported outstanding Taekwondo, basketball and rugby local athletes since the launch of the Entrance Scholarships for Elite Athletes in 2017. He hoped that the scholarship scheme would be promoted to more sports to benefit more athletes through the partnership with the Hong Kong Sports Institute. He also pointed out, “The signing ceremony is a testimony to the commitment of Lingnan to support young athletes in Hong Kong. Through collaborating with the Hong Kong Sports Institute, we aim to nurture more outstanding athletes and win glory for Hong Kong. In the future, I wish that athletes who are admitted to Lingnan will be able to embrace the liberal arts education and learning environment of the University wholeheartedly, and to thrive in their athletic career and studies.”  

 

Mrs Fung remarked that “The MOU provides elite athletes with flexible access to tertiary education, which enables athletes to pursue their sporting dream while continuing university study. The collaboration will certainly help athletes better cater for the career need in the future.” She also thanked Lingnan for sharing the same vision with the HKSI on whole-person development and looked forward to an even more integrated collaboration with the University in the future.

 

Targeting to attract more sporting talents to devote themselves in full-time trainings, the HKSI has established Elite Athlete-friendly School Network in 2014 and Partnership School Programme in 2015. Lingnan University is the sixth university engaged in MOU with the HKSI for supporting athletes on their dual career pathways in their sporting life.

Lingnan University and Hong Kong Sports Institute sign MOU to foster dual career pathways for elite athletes  Lingnan University and Hong Kong Sports Institute sign MOU to foster dual career pathways for elite athletes  Lingnan University and Hong Kong Sports Institute sign MOU to foster dual career pathways for elite athletes