Whom Do We Serve

As one of the pioneers of continuing education in Hong Kong, Community & Higher Education Service (CHES) has been promoting lifelong learning since 1963. CHES comprises of three educational tertiary institutions, namely Saint Francis University and Caritas Bianchi College of Careers as well as Caritas Institute of Community Education which provides community education and vocational training through 16 institutes/centres throughout the territory. CHES serves over 43,000 enrolments each year.

CHES offers a wide range of learning opportunities. These include education leading to academic credentials, education for general interests, education for the aged, new arrivals and less-educated women, workforce training and retraining for adaptation to rapid technological developments.

• In 2014, all community education institutes, centres offering award bearing programmes were renamed as Caritas Institute of Community Education (CICE). CICE’s strategic direction is to provide community education training programmes that nurture talents with the vocational and professional skills needed for the industries and the community.  To this end, CICE has been successfully accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications to offer sub-degree programmes pitched upto QF-Level 4.  To start with, a number of Higher Diploma programmes relevant to different professions (i.e., Accounting and Finance, Tourism and Hotel Management, Public Administration, Health Care, Nutrition, Sports and Fitness, etc.,) will be launched in 2014/2015 academic year.
• Academic programmes range from adult literacy through basic education to studies leading to higher education and professional qualifications.
• The Work-related Programmes for working adults comprises ERB Manpower Development Scheme, Continuing Education Fund Reimbursable Programmes, Skills-upgrading Programmes, Extension Programmes, and SCS-based Programmes designed according to the Specifications of Competency Standards (SCS) under the Qualifications Framework (QF)
• General interest courses enable learners to enrich and develop their knowledge of various fields.
• Programmes supporting secondary education include Yi Jin Diploma Programme, Applied Learning (ApL) courses; courses tailored for students’ Other Learning Experiences under the New Senior Secondary curriculum, and School-based programmes and Community-based programmes that supplement the development of primary and secondary school education.
• The International Programme encompasses a wide variety of programmes which the Service conducts in collaboration with local and overseas higher education institutions.

Objectives

• To facilitate the advancement of a just, progressive and caring society through the promotion of lifelong learning, which empowers people in the community to overcome life challenges with knowledge and skills.
• To offer an open-access education provision to better equip those in need of education with further academic attainment, work skills and a compassionate attitude so as to enable their personal development and community participation.

Achievements

• In order to complement the formal education system and accommodate the ever-broadening range of the community's learning needs, the Service has developed a Lifelong Learning Platform and also a multitude of comprehensive learning pathways with maximum diversity and options operated in formal and non-formal settings.
• Caritas Bianchi College of Careers (CBCC) was established in 1971, and has been offering HKQF Level 4 programmes Business and Hospitality Management, General Education and Language Studies, Design and Health Sciences.  CBCC develops vigorously along the direction of a reputable community college, which provides students with more articulation pathways and professional trainings.
• In May 2011, Caritas Francis Hsu College was granted the degree-conferring status and was renamed as Caritas Institute of Higher Education (CIHE).  CIHE renamed as Saint Francis University (SFU) in January 2024.    SFU is currently offering various Bachelor’s Degree (Hons) and Master’s Degree Programmes which cover Business Administration, Health Science, Social Sciences, Language and Liberal Studies.  In May 2012, Caritas-Hong Kong was granted a piece of land in Tseung Kwan O for the construction of a purpose-built campus for  SFU.  Saint Francis University aspires to be a highly respected tertiary institution.