The first communication school in Hong Kong receives global acclaim as it marks its diamond jubilee with insightful forums and a forward-looking vision for the future

Sixty years of education, research, and impact were celebrated as the School of Journalism and Communication at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) marked its anniversary this July.

Established in 1965, it was the first institution in Hong Kong dedicated to communication education and research. In 2025, the school also achieved a global ranking of 12th place in the QS World University Rankings for Communication and Media Studies, among over 250 universities worldwide.

A special deans’ forum was held to mark the 60th anniversary of the school. It brought together deans from leading universities and institutions teaching journalism education from Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, Macao, Taiwan, and Singapore. They engaged in insightful discussions, shared best practices, and recognized the need to prepare students for the evolving media landscape.

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“The school has experienced remarkable growth from a small department to a large-scale school with more than 400 undergraduates, as well as over 300 individuals pursuing master’s, doctoral, and postgraduate studies. In 60 years of educational practice, we review our curriculum regularly and attach great importance to improving students’ comprehensive abilities, as we bear a significant responsibility to our society, our nation, and our planet,” said CUHK Provost Isabella Poon Wai-yin, addressing the opening of the forum.

Over the past half-century, the school has trained more than 9,000 graduates who are now working in various industries both domestically and internationally, many of whom are in the education sector, training the next generation of communication talent, said Donna Chu, director of CUHK’s School of Journalism and Communication.

“We concentrate on building fundamental skills and a robust knowledge base for our students, which are enduring tasks for educators. As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the school, the motto ‘BeCOMM and Beyond’ embodies our values and beliefs, encouraging students to excel and surpass their limitations. We are dedicated to continuing CUHK’s excellent tradition of general (liberal) education, equipping students for lifelong progress as contributors to our society,” Chu added.

Adapting to AI

During the two-day event, each visiting dean delivered a keynote speech, with topics covering a wide range of issues in the development of journalism education.

The field of education should restore certainty amid uncertainty, cultivating talented individuals who will contribute to national and social progress, said Zhang Taofu, dean of the School of Journalism at Fudan University.

The emergence of artificial intelligence has raised concerns among scholars about rethinking the professional positioning and teaching methods within the discipline. As AI becomes more integrated into newsrooms, journalists need to develop some new skills, such as data literacy, AI proficiency, and multimedia tools use, in order to keep up with AI developments.

Ruby Yang, director of the Journalism and Media Studies Centre at the University of Hong Kong, said storytelling, as a unique characteristic of humanity, will not be supplanted by AI.

Preparing for the future

Attendees also discussed how higher education can equip students with proficient job skills.

Chao Naipeng, vice-president of Shenzhen University, said that their media school places significant emphasis on students’ graduation projects, collaborating with industry giants like Tencent and Huawei to develop their practical skills, and thereby facilitating their entry into the professional marketplace.

Li Huajun, vice-dean of Journalism and Information Communication School at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, shared that aesthetics are very important for journalists in communication. Their school plans to collaborate with the design department to offer visual training programs.

Discussions at the event encompassed a wide range of topics, including the evolution of journalistic skills and the role of education; students’ interest in mainstream media careers and educational programs; developing students’ ability to identify information risks and legal boundaries; developing professional resilience; mass communication theories versus digital information practices; information-processing skills and ethical technology use for data-driven decision-making; cultivating students’ journalistic skills in the new era; and the ability to tell good stories.

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“The world is constantly presenting new challenges and innovations every day. As educators, it is our responsibility to prepare our students not just for the present but also for the future that awaits them. To do so, we must keep our hearts young and ensure that our curricula remain vibrant, adaptable, and forward-thinking. Educators may age, but their curricula should not. Regardless of our age, our course content and teaching methods must evolve to keep pace with the times,” Anthony Fung Ying-him, dean of CUHK’s Faculty of Social Science, concluded at the event. He extended gratitude for everyone’s attendance and contributions and expressed his wish to create a new model for the future of journalism education.

CUHK is highly regarded within Asia, ranking sixth in the QS Asia University Rankings. This year, the institution announced that it has reached a significant milestone by securing the 32nd spot in the QS World University Rankings 2026. An impressive four-place leap marks CUHK’s best performance since 2010, according to a news release from the university.

Contact the writer at irimuk@chinadailyhk.com