Hong Kong donor gives $2 million to build new International House at the University of Calgary
September 18, 2006
Dr. Henry Fok Ying Tung, one of Hong Kong’s foremost philanthropists, has given $2 million towards a new international residence at the University of Calgary for students and visiting scholars. The Dr. Fok Ying Tung International House will usher in a new era of internationalization at U of C.
“We hope that the new International House will add an important international dimension to the University of Calgary, providing accommodation for visiting scholars and students, and giving them all an opportunity to acquire a global perspective while on campus,” Dr. Fok says.
Dr. Fok is one of Hong Kong’s most respected entrepreneurs and has been instrumental to China’s opening to the world since the early days of that nation’s economic reforms. Dr. Fok is, however, no stranger to U of C and the Calgary Chinese community. With the help of his advisor, Mr. Ming Sze Ho, Dr. Fok founded the Calgary Canadian and Chinese Education Foundation in 1996 to promote understanding between the peoples of China and Canada. Over the last 10 years, he has generously supported the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre, the Chinese Christian Wing Kei Care Centre, Calgary Chinese Elderly Citizens' Association, as well as a number of China-Canada educational exchanges at U of C.
“My family is honoured to formalize a relationship with the University of Calgary,” Dr. Fok says.
Dr. Fok was represented in Calgary on September 19th by his son Ian Fok (left). Mr. Ian Fok is the Managing Director of the Fok Ying Tung Group and Vice Chairman of the Fok Ying Tung Foundation in Hong Kong. He is the youngest Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, representing more than 6,000 business and industrial members in Hong Kong. Mr. Ian Fok serves as the Council and Court Member in academic institutions in Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China, including the Hong Kong Management Association, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, the University of Macau and Jinan University.
The Dr. Fok Ying Tung International House will be designed by architectural firms Baird Sampson Neuert of Toronto and Riddell Kurczaba of Calgary.
The donation marks an important international connection and increasing profile of the University of Calgary on the international scene. “Canada is a destination of choice for the best and brightest from other countries,” says Dr. Harvey Weingarten, U of C president and vice-chancellor. “This generous gift allows us to attract the best by providing high quality accommodation on campus close to our local university community.”
Of the 1,800 international students at the U of C, the greatest number, 500, are from China. The second most numerous groups come from India, the United States and Iran. Alberta has nine per cent of the nation’s visa students, and is the fourth most popular destination in the nation.
Dr. Fok Ying Tung International House will be located adjacent to the campus Dining Centre, and will have six storeys. It will provide accommodation for 200 students and visiting scholars. This will bring the number of beds on campus to 2,000, helping to alleviate housing shortages for students and visiting scholars.
International House is scheduled to open in September 2008, and will provide accommodation for both international and Canadian students.
At the moment, the university’s international students live in a variety of rental accommodations, and some are in home stays. About 25 percent have a place in residence, and when surveyed, most said on-campus accommodations are what they’d prefer. Meanwhile, Conference Services receives one request daily for accommodation for visiting scholars.