GIVING TO THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT
To further enhance impact, build our international presence and develop cross-disciplinary synergies the Department is seeking support from the community. With this support we aim to cross new thresholds in research, build upon our world leading reputation and enhance the understanding and appreciation of the value of history in Hong Kong and beyond. We appreciate the goodwill that exists toward us in the community and have devised a range of opportunities for those wishing to give gifts, large or small.
CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING
The Department of History established a History Endowment Fund in 2005 to manage endowments. We are now facing a variety of challenges, and we would be grateful for your support.
CHALLENGE #1: WE NEED FUNDING TO SUPPORT RESEARCH POSTGRADUATE STUDENTSHIPS
CHALLENGE #2: HELP US TO FUND OUR STUDENTS’ CREDIT-BEARING LEARNING TRIPS OVERSEAS
CHALLENGE #3: LAUNCHING CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH PROJECTS
CHALLENGE #4: ACCOMMODATING VISITING STUDENTS
CHALLENGE #5 CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL HELP OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN
CHALLENGE #6 HELP US TO GROW BY ADDING NEW STAFF IN KEY AREAS OF RESEARCH CONCENTRATION
CHALLENGE #7 HELP US TO RECOGNISE OUR STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENTS
If you are interested in making a donation, please send your cheque (payable to “The University of Hong Kong”) and a completed donation form to the Departmental Office:
Department of History
1063, 10/F, Run Run Shaw Tower,
Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong
HONG KONG
THE HISTORY ENDOWMENT FUND
In 2005 Dr. Peter Cunich oversaw the establishment of the History Endowment Fund. The HEF is administered by a Committee of Management drawn from graduates and staff and through this mechanism alumni are able to contribute directly to the Department of History, its activities, and its students and staff.
Our alumni have contributed so generously to the Endowment Fund that the Department has been able to meet a variety of challenges. One challenge was the radical reimagining of the History curriculum during the 3+3+4 curriculum reform. Using HEF funds the Department added new capstone courses such as HIST3031 East Asia Field Trip and HIST4028 History Without Borders. Both are enabling undergraduate students to travel to conduct research in the field. Alumni have provided funds via the HEF that have also allowed the Department to recruit outstanding young scholars, who designed and delivered new courses for our curriculum. The Fund supported the graduate student-run Spring Symposium, which now draws graduate students from around the globe, enriching our Department’s vibrant intellectual culture.
FUNDING IMPACTS
CHALLENGES MET:
Our alumni are helping to fund innovative new courses in the History curriculum.
In HIST4028 History Without Borders students devise their own research projects and travel to historical archives anywhere in the world to complete it. Since 2012-13 the HEF has provided 18 students with this powerful learning opportunity. In 2022, Ms. Queenie Tang, a year 4 HKU History student, received the Global Undergraduate Award 2022 in the Asia regional category for her research paper “Were There Child Suffragists? Children and the Representation of Childhood in the British Women’s Suffrage Movement”. This is the third time one of our student wins this recognition in the last 6 years for their research papers written for this capstone experience course.
In HIST4031 East Asia Field Trip students taking a field trip to examine historical sites and historical remains in the field or in museums and archives. The nature of the field trip varies from year to year depending upon the expertise of the teacher and the needs of students. Both of these courses may be selected as capstone experiences for the History major.
Our alumni are also helping us to run our annual Spring Symposium for Research Postgraduate Students. Through this event, since 2008 our students have built up reciprocal relations with graduates at other Universities – in the US (Northwestern University) and from 2017 Australia (Melbourne University). Through our alumni-funded symposium, Hong Kong is emerging as a regular annual meeting point for exchanges between postgraduates in history and related disciplines.
