HKU SPACE

The University of Hong Kong’s Department of Extra Mural Studies (DEMS) was established in 1956/57, the first continuing education unit in a university in the region. DEMS played a significant role in the University's provision of lifelong learning opportunities for the wider community and in 1992, it was renamed as the School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE). The University has a recognised role in lifelong learning and, as the continuing education arm of the University, HKU SPACE fulfils this part of the University’s mission by providing learning opportunities for personal, professional and career advancement for people from all walks of life.

With some 900 full-time staff members and around 2,000 part-time teachers, HKU SPACE is one of the leading local providers in continuing education. Course enrolments since 1956 have exceeded 3 million, with annual course enrolment of over 89,000 in 2019/20, representing a full-time equivalent student load of 22,504. The School collaborates closely with the other faculties and departments of the University to offer timely and relevant courses that meet society’s needs to update education and skills for the knowledge economy. 

HKU SPACE collaborates with a wide range of academic and professional institutions globally (in the UK, Australia, the USA, Mainland China) and in Hong Kong. The School will continue to explore opportunities for further cooperation with reputable institutions, both local and overseas, in order to offer a greater variety of high quality and relevant programmes to students. In Mainland China, via ICB, HKU SPACE offers training programmes for professionals and senior executives in Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chengdu through a diverse range of professional and senior-executive level programmes with an emphasis on different business and management disciplines.