The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (the Academy) organised the 35th Graduation Ceremony today at the Academy Lyric Theatre. The ceremony was officiated by Council Chairman Professor Stephen Chow Chun-kay, GBS SBS BBS JP.
Academy Director Professor Gillian Choa extended her sincere congratulations to the Graduation Class of 2021 at the ceremony for their great efforts, endurance, resilience and wonderful work in the past few years. Professor Choa encourages graduates to begin the odyssey of their chosen discipline with diligence and sincerity, and allow passion to lead them towards their desired goals. “Believe in yourself and follow your heart confidently, and never lose hope and faith even when you encounter unforeseeable obstacles ahead of you. Your life journey in your chosen career will be filled with inspiring experiences albeit unpredictable challenges. Embrace changes that may come your way, know yourself, and believe in what you are capable of. Believe also in what your teachers have given you, and what you will take away with you today from this Academy, for they will serve you wherever your career takes you.”
This year, 320 graduates from the six Schools of the Academy, namely, Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts were conferred Master’s Degrees, Bachelor’s (Honours) Degrees, Advanced Diplomas, Diploma Foundations, or Certificates.
Academy Director Professor Gillian Choa wished the graduates to never lose hope and faith albeit unpredictable challenges.
Academy faculty members and students adhere to social distancing for group photos. (Above is a group photo of the School of Dance)
Academy graduates sharing joyful moments with one another.
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (www.hkapa.edu)
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), established by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Ordinance in 1984, is a leading tertiary institution in the performing arts in Asia. It provides professional undergraduate education and practice-based postgraduate studies. The study encompasses Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Its educational philosophy reflects the cultural diversity of Hong Kong with emphasis on Chinese and Western traditions, and interdisciplinary learning. Since 2008, the Academy has attained the Programme Area Accreditation (PAA) status awarded by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) to self-monitor and accredit its own Undergraduate and Post-secondary programmes in the five programme areas of Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Since 2016, the PAA status has been extended to cover Master’s Degree programmes and below. The programmes operated by the School of Chinese Opera are accredited by HKCAAVQ for recognition under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework. Besides the main campus in Wanchai, Béthanie, the site of the Academy’s Landmark Heritage Campus in Pokfulam, has housed training facilities for the School of Film and Television since 2006. In the QS World University Rankings announced in 2021, the Academy is ranked 1st in Asia and 10th in the world in the Performing Arts category.