City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has received a donation of $400,000 from the Hong Kong Construction Association (HKCA) to set up a scholarship fund for students studying at the Department of Building and Construction and the Division of Building Science and Technology.

The aim of the scholarship is to honour students with outstanding academic performance and support related research for the development of the building industry. As the first scholarship set up by the HKCA for CityU, it will attract better quality students to study building and construction at CityU and produce more competent professionals for the industry.

The cheque presentation ceremony for the scholarship fund was held on 4 January. Officiating guests included Mr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung, JP, President of HKCA, Mr Thomas C W Tse, Secretary General of HKCA, Professor Way Kuo, CityU President, Professor Arthur Ellis, Provost of CityU, Professor Lu Jian, Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, Professor Sritawat Kitipornchai, Head of the Department of Building and Construction, Dr Paul Ho Hok-keung, Head of the Division of Building Science and Technology, and Ms Ada Leung Wing-yee, Associate Vice-President (Development).

Mr Wong said at the ceremony that the local building industry has promising prospects and building professionals will remain in very high demand for the foreseeable future. He noted that the Hong Kong SAR Government has announced 10 major infrastructure projects and committed itself to major public sector spending.

Professor Kuo thanked HKCA for its generous donation to set up the scholarship. “The job market for the building industry is booming because the industry is experiencing rapid growth in Hong Kong and the mainland,” he said. “It has been reported that building professionals are in high demand locally and with mainland construction industries, which is definitely good news for our students.”

Students in the following full-time bachelor’s degree and associate degree programmes are eligible to apply for the scholarship:

· Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Building Engineering (Construction Engineering and Management)

· Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Building Engineering (Structural and Geotechnical Engineering)

· Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Surveying

· Associate of Science in Construction Engineering and Management

· Associate of Science in Architectural Studies

· Associate of Science in Surveying (Quantity Surveying)