Hong Kong's largest public university dedicated to teacher training celebrated its 30th anniversary on Friday, pledging to remain committed to serving both local and national initiatives while reforming its degree programs to align with the evolving educational landscape.

The Education University of Hong Kong – ranking 20th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2024 for its education discipline – said in a media release that it has trained over 130,000 educators and professionals across various sectors since its founding in 1994.

As one of eight publicly funded higher education institutions in Hong Kong, EdUHK has positioned itself at the forefront of national initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, while also promoting national security awareness, the release said.

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This year’s anniversary theme, “Nurturing Talent and Upholding Morality,”, underscores the university's mission to cultivate students with a strong senses of national identity, global vision and social responsibility, it said.

In 1994, the government merged the existing five normal colleges to create the Hong Kong Institute of Education, which was officially renamed the Education University of Hong Kong in 2016.

EdUHK plays a critical role in Hong Kong's educational landscape, with about 70 percent of local primary, secondary and special school teachers being as its graduates, the university said.

To meet the evolving needs of society, the university announced plans to reform the curriculum of its 13 existing five-year Bachelor of Education programs, converting them into dual-degree offerings starting next year.

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In a bid to attract high-caliber students, EdUHK has increased its scholarship funding for undergraduate programs by 40 percent, totaling nearly HK$25 million ($3.2 million) for the 2025-26 academic year.

In addition to its educational achievements, EdUHK has established the National Security and Legal Education Research Center to enhance legal awareness and national security among students.

The university is also committed to fostering close collaborations with tertiary education institutions from the Chinese mainland and the regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Contact the writer at lilei@chinadailyhk.com