The growing diversity in curriculum helps to broaden students' perspectives and prepares them for the challenges posed by today's dynamic and fast changing world. In February this year, City University established four Applied Strategic Development Centres. This initiative bears eloquent testimony to the University's commitment to promoting research and development and stimulating new ideas and innovations. With such an enviable training environment and level of support, I am sure that research will thrive within the campus walls. More than anything else, the quality of education that we provide to our younger generations today will determine the quality of our leaders tomorrow.
University education is an important component of that overall education.
But university education would not be complete without the experience of hostel life. Although a long way back now, I remember fondly my own hostel days on the campus of Hong Kong University. For the first time I tasted real freedom away from home. I became master or mistress, at least for myself, of my own daily schedules, when to begin it when to end it. But most of all, I remember the sense of sharing and belonging to a small closely knit family where giving was as important as taking.