The Institute of Financial Planners of Hong Kong (IFPHK) has announced that students and graduates of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Personal Finance Programme [BA(PF)] are now eligible for course exemptions in the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Certification. This prestigious recognition affirms the high standards of the BA(PF) curriculum and its alignment with the professional certification requirements in the financial sector.
What benefits BA(PF) students and graduates will enjoy
Eligible BA(PF) students can enjoy exemptions from the following three courses of the CFP Certification Education Programme, streamlining their path towards obtaining the globally recognized CFP certification:
• Course 1: Investment Planning and Asset Management
• Course 2: Insurance Planning and Risk Management
• Course 3: Tax Planning and Estate Planning
What Kind of Career Opportunities Will Be Enhanced for BA(PF) Graduates
Obtaining the CFP certification enhances professional credibility and significantly broadens career opportunities within the financial services industry, particularly in personalized finance and private wealth management. Graduates can look forward to improved job prospects and the potential for increased earning capacity.
What should BA(PF) students do if they are interested in applying for the CFP certification
Students interested in pursuing the CFP certification are encouraged to review the eligibility criteria and prepare the required documentation for exemption applications. For more details, please visit the IFPHK website at https://www.ifphk.org/certification/transcript-review.
**Details of the Pre-approved Subjects for Course Exemption:
| Exemption (Pre-approved Transcript Review status granted) | Course code under the BA(PF) programme | Course Title |
| CFP Certification Education Program (Course 1: Investment Planning and Asset Management) | BUS4059 + BUS4060 | Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management for Personal Needs; PLUS Risk Management for Investment |
| CFP Certification Education Program (Course 2: Insurance Planning and Risk Management) | BUS3054 + BUS3056 | Household Finance and Wealth Management; PLUS Lifelong and Retirement Financial Planning |
| CFP Certification Education Program (Course 3: Tax Planning and Estate Planning) | BUS2051+ BUS3054 + BUS3056 | Budgeting and Taxation; PLUS Household Finance and Wealth Management; PLUS Lifelong and Retirement Financial Planning |
Dear Colleagues,
I am delighted to share with you the fantastic news on the funding result of the Research Impact Fund (RIF) 2024/25 announced by the Research Grants Council (RGC) on 27 December 2024.
Out of 175 proposals submitted to the RGC, 14 projects were funded in this round of RIF exercise. Professor Chou Kee Lee of the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies (SSPS) has distinguished himself through a rigorous selection process, demonstrating exceptional academic merit and influential contributions to society. Please join me in conveying my warmest congratulations to Professor Chou and his team on their great achievement!
The RIF aims to encourage local academics to consider and articulate the potential of research to deliver benefits to the wider community, to encourage more impactful and translational research projects, and to encourage a greater volume of collaborative research beyond academia (e.g. with government departments, the business sector, the industry and research institutes).
Professor Chou’s project “Alleviating Loneliness in Older Adults Living in Poverty: A Multi-level Intervention” received HK$5.3 million in funding from the RGC. In this four-year project, Professor Chou’s team seeks to conduct a single-blinded cluster, four-arm randomized controlled trial designed to test the effect and cost-effectiveness of a multi-level intervention to alleviate loneliness among Hong Kong Chinese older adults living in poverty. This study will lay a solid foundation for the large-scale implementation of such an effective, accessible, affordable, and scalable intervention shortly by capitalizing on community social capital.
As we move forward, I encourage faculty members to tap into your full potential to embark on impactful research and continue to grow in the research capacity and vibrancy of the University. The RGC has different levels of large-scale research grants above the usual Early Career Scheme (ECS) / General Research Fund (GRF), such as Collaborative Research Fund (CRF), Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS), Strategic Topics Grant (STG) and Research Fellow Scheme (RFS) / Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS), in addition to the RIF. Your unwavering efforts are indispensable to our success, and I am excited to see more incredible work we will accomplish together, elevating the university to new heights.
Congratulations again to Professor Chou and his research team members.
Best,
Chetwyn
Professor Chetwyn Chan
Vice President (Research & Development)
Dr Herbary Cheung, an alumnus of The Department of Asian and Policy Studies (now The Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies), has been honored with two prestigious Early Career Researcher awards for his outstanding work on gender and migration, promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Southeast Asia.
Dr Cheung completed his PhD under the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) at EdUHK in 2022, under the supervision of Dr. Isabella Ng. He is currently a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) at the Malaysia School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University.
In 2024, Dr. Cheung was awarded the PVC’s Award for Excellence in Research (Early Career Researcher) at Monash University and the New Mandala’s Emerging Scholar Award. These accolades highlight the importance of his research in tackling complex societal issues, while advancing theoretical and methodological approaches in gendered migration studies and intersectionality in Southeast Asia.
Dr Cheung recently published a book titled Single Mothers in Thailand: Women, Motherhood, and Going it All Alone. The book investigates a range of major sociological debates and policy studies related to gender, family, marriage, health, intersectionality, and social exclusion of single mothers in Thailand.
Congratulations to Dr. Cheung on these well-deserved achievements!
As part of the PUA3016 Leadership in Social Entrepreneurship and Development course, over 40 students had an incredible opportunity to visit Project Dignity Hong Kong.
The agenda featured a delightful lunch at Dignity Kitchen, where the students experienced the vibrant food culture while engaging with the mission of social inclusion. The highlight of our visit was a compelling presentation by Mr. Koh Seng Choon, the founder of Project Dignity. His inspiring journey from humble beginnings to establishing a successful social enterprise demonstrated the profound impact of innovative business models on marginalized communities.
Mr. Koh elaborated on how Project Dignity not only serves authentic Singaporean dishes but also empowers individuals through comprehensive training and placement programs. This initiative exemplifies how food can be a catalyst for social change, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and fostering community spirit.
The visit underscored the significance of leadership and compassion in social entrepreneurship. The students left feeling inspired and motivated to contribute positively to the community.
This is a compulsory GBA field trip for the course GGP3014 Pedagogy in Geographical Education, led by Dr. Karen LIU. In this field trip, students had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the latest development in GBA city and gain a deeper understanding of the educational environment through engaging in in-depth discussion with the current experienced teacher from the mainland. The students not only visited the local school and observed a professional geography lesson, but also explored the surrounding field sites and further investigated the city changes brought by urban development and governance planning. It is believed after the field trip, students will be able to understand how to conduct an effect teaching session and enhance their subject knowledge with analytical study of different cases in GBA.
On November 4, 2024, Dr Isabella Ng, Associate Professor in the Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies and co-founder of the Hong Kong Society for Asylum-Seekers and Refugees, was invited by the Malaysia School of Arts and Social Sciences at Monash University to share her expertise on advocating for the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers with her students from the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and the interns with diverse backgrounds from all over the world.
Alongside Ms. Piya Muqit, Dr. Ng offered practical guidance on how students can apply classroom knowledge and skills to make meaningful contributions in their internships. She emphasized that internships not only serve as professional training but also empower individuals and communities in need.
In a collaborative discussion with Dr. Herbary Cheung, Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Gender Studies and Work Integrated Learning/Internship Coordinator at Monash University, Dr. Ng explored the potential for a transnational, research-based work-integrated learning project between EdUHK and Monash. This initiative aims to inspire students from both universities to investigate social and policy issues, fostering active engagement and cross-cultural inquiry beyond the classroom.