PolyU Continuing Education and Affiliated Bodies (CPCE / HKCC / SPEED)

# Continuing Education and Affiliated Bodies (CPCE / HKCC / SPEED)

Beyond its UGC-funded main campus, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) operates a separate self-financing continuing and professional education system, all under the umbrella of the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE). This system comprises two operational units: the Hong Kong Community College (HKCC) and the School of Professional Education and Executive Development (SPEED). This framework offers sub-degree programmes to secondary school leavers, top-up degrees to sub-degree graduates, and master’s degrees and continuing education courses, serving as a vital extension of PolyU’s engagement with society and its broadening of the educational ladder. This article is structured as: CPCE Overview → HKCC → SPEED → Articulation Pathways and Positioning.

---

# 1. College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE) Overview

# 1.1 History and Positioning

According to CPCE’s “College Overview” page^※, CPCE was established in 2002 as a self-financing college of PolyU, overseeing two educational units:

• HKCC offers two-year sub-degree programmes (Associate Degree and Higher Diploma).
• SPEED offers two-year top-up honours bachelor’s degrees, four-year full-time honours bachelor’s degrees, as well as master’s degree and continuing education programmes.

# 1.2 The “2+2” Articulation Pathway

CPCE provides a flexible “2+2” articulation pathway: HKCC graduates can progress to a top-up degree at SPEED, ultimately earning a qualification awarded by PolyU (according to CPCE’s “2+2 Pathway” page^※). That is:

2-year Sub-degree at HKCC → 2-year Top-up Degree at SPEED → PolyU-accredited Degree

---

# 2. Hong Kong Community College (HKCC)

# 2.1 History

According to the English Wikipedia entry for “Hong Kong Community College” (whose narrative aligns with official HKCC materials):

The Chinese name is 香港專上學院; the English name is Hong Kong Community College (HKCC). According to HKCC’s “About HKCC” page^※, HKCC was founded in 2001, is a member of CPCE, and is a self-financing post-secondary institution.

# 2.2 Programmes, Campuses, and Scale

---

# 3. School of Professional Education and Executive Development (SPEED)

# 3.1 History and Positioning

According to SPEED’s “School Overview” page^※ and CPCE materials, SPEED was established by PolyU in 1999 to provide quality bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes that facilitate the career and professional development of aspiring individuals.

# 3.2 Programmes and Overseas Collaboration

• Top-up / Articulation Degrees: SPEED offers a variety of self-financing top-up bachelor’s degree programmes in two-year full-time and four-year part-time modes, covering business and other professional fields. Graduates receive a PolyU-SPEED award (per SPEED’s “School Overview” page).
• Overseas Collaboration: According to public information, SPEED has historically collaborated with the UK’s Northumbria University, Newcastle Business School and the University of London to offer top-up degree programmes and legal preparatory courses in Hong Kong, respectively.
• Master’s and Continuing Education Programmes: SPEED also offers master’s degree and continuing education programmes (per CPCE’s “College Overview” page).

Note: The specific list of programmes offered in collaboration with overseas institutions and their respective start and end dates change over time. Refer to the latest information on the SPEED and CPCE official websites for up-to-date details.

---

# 4. Articulation Pathway and Positioning within Hong Kong’s Post-secondary Landscape

# 4.1 Quick Overview of the Relationships

Note on founding years: SPEED (1999) predates HKCC (2001). Both were brought under the CPCE umbrella upon its creation in 2002. In other words, two independent units first existed, and CPCE was later established as the overseeing college.

# 4.2 Positioning: Self-financing vs. UGC-funded

• The main body of PolyU is one of the eight UGC-funded institutions, with JUPAS as the primary admission route for undergraduates.
• The CPCE system (HKCC/SPEED) belongs to the self-financing post-secondary education sector, alongside HKU SPACE and the community/continuing education colleges of other universities. They do not utilise UGC-funded places, operating instead on tuition fees and self-raised funds. Their primary target groups are those seeking sub-degree articulation and in-service/professional development.
• This dual-track structure of a “UGC-funded main body + self-financing extension” is a common arrangement among several of Hong Kong’s established universities (e.g., HKU, PolyU, CityU, HKBU): the UGC-funded body focuses on research and funded degrees, while the self-financing arm expands access to higher education and continuing learning.

---

# 5. Li Ka-shing Professional and Continuing Education (LiPACE) (李嘉誠專業進修學院)

Li Ka-shing Professional and Continuing Education (LiPACE) (李嘉誠專業進修學院) is another continuing education brand under PolyU, focused specifically on vocational development and in-service training:

LiPACE’s programme offerings cover:

• Business (accounting, human resource management, corporate governance);
• Law (foundational legal training);
• Information technology and data analytics;
• Design and creative industries;
• Healthcare professional qualifications.

Together, LiPACE and SPEED form the mainstay of PolyU’s “working professional” development sector, jointly referred to as the “society-facing” layer of PolyU’s professional education system.

---

# 6. Other Key Affiliated Entities of PolyU

Beyond the teaching institutions, PolyU extends its engagement within Hong Kong society through the following key affiliated entities:

# 6.1 Hotel ICON (唯港薈)

• Type: A fully-owned and operated, real-world hotel by PolyU (not an educational institution);
• Address: 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon;
• Scale: 28 storeys, 262 guest rooms;
• Teaching Function: A “living laboratory” for the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM);
• Industry Contribution: Provides real-world hotel operational data for teaching and research and serves as a training base for Hong Kong’s hotel industry.

See hotel-tourism-school.md in the repository.

# 6.2 PolyU Technology and Consultancy Company Limited (PTTC) (理大技術及顧問有限公司)

PolyU Technology and Consultancy Company Limited (PTTC) (理大技術及顧問有限公司) is PolyU’s platform for knowledge transfer and commercialisation:

• Manages the licensing of intellectual property arising from PolyU research;
• Assists professors in starting businesses and incubating start-ups;
• Signs collaborative research contracts with corporate partners.

# 6.3 PolyU InnoHub (理大創業訓練所)

The InnoHub (理大創業訓練所) is PolyU’s primary entrepreneurship incubation and accelerator platform:

• Provides co-working space, start-up mentorship, and seed funding;
• Accepts applications for entrepreneurial projects from students, staff, and alumni;
• Has collaborative links with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and Cyberport.

---

# 7. Corporate Training and Executive Education

PolyU delivers customised training to corporate clients through the following channels:

• SPEED Corporate Training: SPEED offers “tailor-made” staff training programmes for corporations.
• SHTM Food and Wine Academy: Offers short workshops for hospitality and tourism professionals and the public.
• Short Courses by Professional Schools: Cover industry-recognised professional certificates in areas such as Project Management (PMP), data analytics, and human resources.

PolyU’s corporate training business is a significant revenue source for its continuing education wing and one of the channels through which the university’s research findings are translated into industry knowledge.

---

# 8. Scale and Financial Model of the CPCE System

The operation of the CPCE system is:

• Entirely self-funded: It does not receive UGC subventions, operating on tuition fees and self-raised funds.
• Scale (2021/22 reference): HKCC currently has around 9,000 enrolled students.
• Articulation Record: HKCC has cumulatively assisted over 36,600 graduates in articulating to bachelor’s degrees since its founding.
• Revenue Contribution: Based on the overall landscape of Hong Kong higher education, tuition fees from self-financing institutions are an important source of supplementary income for universities, potentially allowing PolyU to use surpluses from its self-financing units to subsidise research and facilities at the main campus.

---

# 9. HKCC Programme System and Campus Details

# 9.1 Distinction Between Associate Degree (AD) and Higher Diploma (HD)

HKCC offers two types of sub-degree qualifications: the Associate Degree (AD) and the Higher Diploma (HD). Both are at Level 4 of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (QF), but with different emphases:

According to the HKCC Programmes page^※, its courses cover the following broad categories:

• Business and Management (Accounting, Marketing, Finance, Corporate Management);
• Design and Creative Studies (Interior Design, Design Studies);
• Health Studies (Rehabilitation, Nutritional Science support courses);
• Social Sciences (Social Work, Media and Communication);
• Science and Environmental Studies (Mathematical Sciences and Applications).

# 9.2 Detailed Look at HKCC’s Two Campuses

All formal teaching for HKCC is conducted at the PolyU Hung Hom Bay Campus and the PolyU West Kowloon Campus, both separate from the main PolyU campus in Hung Hom:

The two campuses have a combined gross floor area of over 57,000 square metres^※, providing dedicated teaching space for HKCC and not shared with undergraduates from the PolyU main campus.

# 9.3 HKCC Student Services and Extra-curricular Activities

HKCC students can access the following support:

• Student Affairs Office: Provides career counselling, advisory services, and co-ordination of extra-curricular activities.
• Articulation Guidance: Employs dedicated advisors to help students plan their “2+2” pathway, including applications to PolyU SPEED degrees and non-JUPAS admission routes.
• Student Union (HKCC Student Union) : Operates independently, organising cultural and social activities.
• Sports Facilities: Access to sports and recreational facilities at both campuses.

---

# 10. SPEED Programme System and Professional Qualifications

# 10.1 SPEED Top-up Degree Programmes

According to the SPEED Programmes page^※ and CPCE materials, the articulation honours bachelor’s degree programmes offered by SPEED come in two study modes:

Subject areas covered include:

• Business and Management (Business Administration, Human Resources Management, Marketing, Accounting);
• Design (Creative Design for Brand Communication, Interior Design);
• Social Sciences (Applied Psychology, Social Policy and Administration);
• Health Management.

Graduates are awarded a “PolyU-SPEED” degree, i.e., an honours bachelor’s degree jointly awarded by PolyU and SPEED. It is pegged at Level 5 of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework, the same QF level as a degree from the PolyU main body.

# 10.2 SPEED Master’s Degree Programmes

In addition to top-up bachelor’s degrees, SPEED also offers several self-financing master’s programmes, primarily targeting working professionals:

• Courses related to Business Administration (MBA);
• Short certificates in Executive Development;
• Postgraduate Diploma programmes in specific professions.

According to SPEED’s official “School Overview” page^※, these programmes aim to “facilitate the career and professional development of aspiring individuals” and are mainly delivered in in-service, part-time mode.

# 10.3 Overseas Collaborative Programmes and International Recognition

Over the years, SPEED has collaborated with several overseas institutions to offer internationally oriented programmes that can be studied in Hong Kong:

Note: Details of overseas collaborative programmes vary annually. Refer to the latest programme list on the SPEED official website.

---

# 11. Lifelong Learning and Professional Qualification Development

# 11.1 The “Lifelong Learning” Ethos of PolyU’s Continuing Education

The design of PolyU’s continuing education system spans a complete life cycle, from secondary school graduation to professional re-skilling for working adults. Its “lifelong learning” architecture can be divided into three stages:

[Stage 1: Youth Articulation]
Secondary School Leaver → HKCC Associate Degree/Higher Diploma (2 years)
→ SPEED Top-up Bachelor’s (2 years) → PolyU-SPEED Honours Bachelor’s

[Stage 2: In-service Professional Development]
Working Professional → SPEED Part-time Bachelor’s/Master’s or LiPACE Professional Certificate
→ Progression in professional qualifications, gain industry certification

[Stage 3: Executive/Leadership Development]
Corporate Management → SPEED Executive Development Short Courses, Customised Corporate Training
→ Update management knowledge, earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits recognised by professional bodies

# 11.2 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Credits and Professional Qualifications

Some short courses offered by SPEED and LiPACE are recognised by professional bodies. Upon completion, learners can earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits used to maintain professional qualifications (e.g., the annual renewal requirements for accountants, engineers, and human resources professionals). Key professional fields and their representative accrediting bodies include:

The specific list of accredited courses and their CPD credit values is subject to the annual announcements of the respective programme pages and professional bodies.

# 11.3 Senior Learning and Community Engagement

Participants in PolyU’s continuing education are not limited to youths and working professionals. According to public information, the CPCE system and PolyU’s outreach education programmes also provide learning opportunities for seniors and members of the community:

• Community workshops in collaboration with Hong Kong community learning resource centres;
• Certificate programmes in professional studies designed specifically for women “returning to the workforce”;
• Some LiPACE short courses offer discounted fees for senior learners.

This positioning makes PolyU a significant provider in Hong Kong’s “lifelong learning for all ages” ecosystem.

---

# 12. CPCE’s Position in Hong Kong’s Self-financing Post-secondary Education Landscape

# 12.1 Comparison of Major Self-financing Continuing Education Providers

Within Hong Kong’s self-financing post-secondary and continuing education market, CPCE (HKCC + SPEED) operates alongside other major institutions:

The scale figures for each institution are updated annually; please refer to each institution’s official website for the latest data. HKCC differentiates itself from purely independent self-financing institutions by offering a “PolyU-branded sub-degree to a PolyU-accredited degree” pathway.

# 12.2 Government Policy Regulation of the Self-financing Post-secondary Sector

Hong Kong’s self-financing post-secondary education sector is governed by the following regulatory framework:

• Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320) : Regulates the registration and operation of self-financing post-secondary colleges in Hong Kong.
• Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) : Conducts programme validation and institutional reviews for self-financing programmes.
• Quality Assurance Council: Sets standards for the quality of self-financing programmes.

As a self-financing institution under CPCE, HKCC is subject to periodic external reviews by the HKCAAVQ to ensure its programmes meet the standards of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (QF).

---

# 13. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is HKCC the same institution as PolyU? Does studying at HKCC mean I am studying at PolyU?

According to HKCC’s official FAQ page^※, HKCC is an “affiliated and financially self-supporting college” of PolyU and is not the main body of PolyU. In a legal sense, HKCC students are enrolled at HKCC, not the main body of PolyU. Their sub-degree qualification is awarded by HKCC, not directly by PolyU. A PolyU-accredited honours bachelor’s degree is only obtained after completing an HKCC sub-degree and articulating to a SPEED top-up degree.

Q2: How competitive is the “2+2” pathway for further study? Can all HKCC graduates progress to SPEED?

The “2+2” pathway is not an automatic guarantee of progression. SPEED’s top-up degree programmes have an independent admissions process. HKCC graduates must meet the GPA and other relevant requirements to gain admission. According to CPCE’s public information, SPEED offers top-up degrees across multiple disciplines, and the level of competition varies by subject. PolyU’s historical statistics show that over 36,600 HKCC graduates have successfully articulated to a bachelor’s degree programme (including at SPEED and other institutions), but not all graduates may successfully articulate to SPEED.

Q3: How well is the PolyU-SPEED degree recognised in the Hong Kong job market?

A PolyU-SPEED degree is recognised at Level 5 of the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (QF), placing it at the same QF level as a bachelor’s degree from the main body of PolyU. However, some employers, civil service job postings, or professional bodies may distinguish between a “PolyU main body” degree and a “PolyU-SPEED” degree in their recruitment or membership conditions. Employment outcomes vary by industry and individual background; consult the graduate employment statistics officially published by SPEED for a reference.

Q4: Are LiPACE courses credit-bearing? Can learners accumulate them towards a formal qualification?

The nature of LiPACE programmes varies. Some are “credit-bearing” courses, which upon completion lead to a formal qualification (e.g., a Professional Diploma, Higher Diploma). Others are non-credit-bearing short workshops or corporate training programmes that issue an attendance/completion certificate and do not directly count towards a formal academic qualification. Prospective students should confirm the QF level and accreditation status of their chosen course before enrolment.

Q5: Can non-Hong Kong permanent residents study at HKCC or SPEED?

Both HKCC and SPEED accept applications from non-local students, though tuition fees and eligibility for financial aid differ. Non-local students are required to pay higher tuition fees themselves and are generally ineligible to apply for Hong Kong government student financial assistance. Please refer to the latest information on the official CPCE, HKCC, and SPEED websites for specific admission requirements and tuition fees.

Q6: Does CPCE offer student housing? Can HKCC/SPEED students apply for accommodation?

Based on public information, HKCC and SPEED students generally cannot apply for student residences at the main PolyU campus (PolyU housing prioritises students on UGC-funded programmes). The two CPCE campuses (Hung Hom Bay and West Kowloon) do not have their own student dormitories. Self-financing students must arrange their own off-campus accommodation. PolyU may have reference materials to help students find private housing; refer to the latest official announcements for details.

---

# Sources

• “College Overview”, CPCE Official Website: https://www.cpce-polyu.edu.hk/about-cpce/cpce-at-a-glance/college-overview (Official, primary; CPCE founded 2002, oversees HKCC/SPEED, programme levels)
• “HKCC + SPEED = CPCE 2+2 Pathway”, CPCE Official Website: https://www.cpce-polyu.edu.hk/admissions/programmes-tuition-fees-and-scholarships/hkcc---speed---cpce--2-2--pathway-to-polyu-accredited-degrees (Official, primary; 2+2 articulation pathway)
• “About HKCC”, HKCC Official Website: https://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/en/faqs/about-hkcc/index.html (Official, primary; HKCC founded 2001, under CPCE, self-financing)
• “College Overview”, HKCC Official Website: https://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/en/about-hkcc/college-overview/index.html (Official, primary; over 36,600 graduates articulated to a degree)
• “School Overview”, SPEED Official Website: https://www.speed-polyu.edu.hk/about-us/school-overview (Official, primary; SPEED founded 1999, top-up degrees, overseas collaborations)
• “Hong Kong Community College”, English Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Community_College (Encyclopedic, secondary; founded 2001 with 800 places, Hung Hom Bay/West Kowloon campuses, 57,000 sq m, approx. 9,024 students in 2021-22)
• “Programmes”, HKCC Official Website: https://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/en/programmes/ (Official, primary; programme categories for AD/HD)
• “Programmes”, SPEED Official Website: https://www.speed-polyu.edu.hk/programmes/ (Official, primary; details of top-up degree programmes)

# See Also

• Publishing, Academic Journals, and Digital Education & IT
• Pao Yue-kong Library and Campus Collections & Exhibitions
• PolyU’s Position in Hong Kong’s Post-secondary Landscape

Last updated: July 2026; in case of discrepancies, the latest information on each institution’s official website shall prevail.