10 April 2026 — Saint Francis University (SFU) today renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Hong Kong Athletes Career & Education Department (HKACED) of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC). The MOU extends the "Outstanding Hong Kong Athlete Nomination Scheme for Higher Education" (OHKANS) for the next five academic years from 2026/27 to 2030/31. This collaboration aims to provide diverse articulation pathways for retiring and retired athletes, helping them balance sports and studies, and laying a solid foundation for their career transition.

Dual Career Pathway for Athletes

The signing ceremony was officiated by Dr. the Hon. Timothy Fok Tsun-ting, President of SF&OC and Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, President of SFU.

Professor Cheung said, "As a pioneering applied sciences university, SFU emphasises applying knowledge in practice. Through our dual career support and dedicated scholarships, we are committed to supporting athletes for their smooth transition upon retirement while continuing to excel in various fields in society."

Dr. Fok hopes that OHKANS will enable athletes to pursue excellence in sports while also supporting their personal growth. "We are delighted to continue our partnership with SFU. Through educational and scholarship support, we encourage athletes to equip themselves and seize diverse learning opportunities. OHKANS will enable athletes to prepare for their future careers and continue to shine and contribute beyond the arena", he said.

Scholarships & Flexible Admissions: Easing Athletes' Financial Burden

Under the framework of OHKANS, athletes nominated by HKACED can apply for designated SFU programmes from diploma to master's degree levels, covering various fields including health sciences, social sciences, humanities and languages, technology, and business management. SFU will waive their application fees and guarantee admission interviews, with the opportunity of direct admission for selected programmes. The University will also offer flexibility in study duration and class scheduling, enabling athletes to balance their studies with regular training and competitions.

Athletes who are admitted and meet the specified academic requirements will be eligible for dedicated scholarship awards in the form of tuition fee deductions. Those enrolled in Master of Corporate Governance, Postgraduate Diploma in Private Banking and Family Office, and Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) programmes may qualify for full tuition fee waivers, subject to the relevant academic requirements.

Ms. Venus Ng Wing-nam, a former table tennis athlete of Hong Kong, China who was nominated by HKACED and successfully admitted to the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physiotherapy, shared her experience. She said, "Career planning after retirement is a challenge that all athletes must face. The collaboration between SFU and HKACED not only alleviates the financial burden of further studies but also provides flexible class arrangements that accommodate the transition for retiring athletes. This is immensely helpful in encouraging athletes to pursue their second career with confidence." Moving forward, SFU and HKACED will work closely together to build diverse career ladders for athletes, further promoting long-term collaboration between the education and sports sectors.