HONG KONG (SE): Saint Francis University [SFU] announced on August 25 that the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) had formally approved the integration of Caritas Bianchi College of Careers [CBCC] as an academic school under its umbrella.
This landmark transition aims to enrich the educational experience of students, offering more flexible articulation pathways, enhanced professional training, and improved career opportunities.
New structure under SFU
With the new arrangement, CBCC will share the same academic status as other schools of SFU. The position of dean has been created for the school, currently filled on an acting basis by Professor Annie Bligh, provost of SFU.
Under the revised structure, CBCC’s existing departments will be integrated into SFU’s schools:
- The Departments of Business and Hospitality Management will join the Rita Tong Liu School of Business and Hospitality Management.
- The Department of Health Sciences will become part of the S.K. Yee School of Health Sciences.
- The Department of Social Sciences will move under the Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences.
CBCC will continue to operate its Department of Design and Department of General Education.
Graduates of CBCC will now receive diplomas and degrees issued by SFU, ensuring continuity of qualifications while aligning with the broader academic framework of the university.
Growing demand and future plans
Professor Lo Tit-wing, acting president of SFU, highlighted CBCC’s essential role in vocational and professional education, noting the surging demand for its programmes. Enrollment at the college has risen by 16 per cent this year alone.
Looking to the future, SFU plans to launch a new programme in Religion and Ethics in the 2026–2027 academic year, broadening opportunities for students interested in advanced study in the humanities. Additionally, work is underway to develop an undergraduate degree within the Department of Design.
A legacy of service in education
Founded in 1971 in Pokfulam as Bishop Bianchi College of Careers, CBCC originally offered certificate and diploma programmes in accounting, design, tourism, and hotel management under the Caritas motto “Love in the Service of Hope.”
The college introduced dual-award Associate Degree programmes in Business and Hospitality Management in 2001 and, in 2006, became the first non-University Grants Commission-funded institution to receive a government-granted site for a permanent campus in Tseung Kwan O.
In 2008, CBCC was administratively merged with Caritas Francis Hsu College [a predecessor institution of SFU, then known as Caritas Institute of Higher Education], paving the way for the development of a Catholic university in Hong Kong. The following year, a modern 10-storey, 16,400 sqm campus was opened in Tseung Kwan O, providing an upgraded academic environment.
In 2025, CBCC reached another milestone, formally becoming an academic school of Saint Francis University. This new chapter will expand opportunities for its students, preparing them to meet the needs of a rapidly changing society while remaining rooted in the values of Caritas.
