Based on the SWOT analysis, we recognise the following:

Strengths which we aim to capitalise on: our professionally-oriented programmes; strength in a number of unique disciplines and a wide range of part-time and self-financed programmes; a team of quality staff with professional expertise and experience; a proactive and open-minded, executive-led management; close partnership with industry and the professions; as well as good frameworks for industry-guided research and for partnership activities and facilities on the Chinese mainland.

Weaknesses which we aim to improve: limitation of space and the need to further optimize its utilization; need for more senior academic staff to strengthen our academic standing; need to strengthen liberal and all-round education; need to strengthen staff and students?identity and sense of belonging in the University; and need to expand the international dimension of our student profile by admitting more students from the Chinese mainland and overseas.

Opportunities which we aim to fully exploit: Government’s policy in promoting innovation and technology; the growing demand for professional diploma and sub-degree courses arising from Government’s objective to have 60% of our senior secondary school leavers entering tertiary education within ten years; increased accessibility to prospective students in the HKSAR and the region via the HKCyberU; the opportunity to collaborate with institutions on the Chinese mainland and to make use of their experience and expertise in research and teaching and to place our students on attachments; and the new opportunities created by developments on the Chinese mainland, notably China’s impending accession to the World Trade Organization and development of Western China.

Threats which we aim to overcome: increasing competition from local and overseas higher education institutions and those from the Chinese mainland, franchised and distance-learning programmes in terms of quality students, academic staff, government and private funding, space, consultancy opportunities, and transfer and commercialization of applied technology to the industrial and business sectors.