Press Release - Saint Francis University Launches Centre for Applied Ethics to Bridge Different Values in the Age of AI 2026-05-14
Saint Francis University Launches Centre for Applied Ethics to Bridge Different Values in the Age of AI
14 May 2026
Saint Francis University (SFU) is pleased to announce the official launch of the Centre for Applied Ethics (CAE) today. Rooted in positive moral values and informed by Chinese and religious humanistic traditions, the Centre aims to promote interdisciplinary dialogue to address contemporary global challenges.
In particular, the CAE is established to identify common ground between ethics of different cultures, focusing on six key pillars: technological development and human dignity, business ethics, healthcare ethics, bioethics, social ethics, and environmental ethics.
Professor Stephen Cheung Yan-leung, President of SFU, said, "In an era of rapid globalisation and technological change, it is imperative that our new generation comes to realise and value the utmost importance of our Chinese culture, values and heritage. The CAE will create a unique platform for meaningful discussion, allowing students and the community to explore the common ground between ethical traditions of different cultures."
Father Arturo De la Torre, Director of the CAE, said, "Through fostering this dialogue, we equip our young people to engage with the complexities of the modern world by cultivating an international outlook, grounded in the rich heritage of Chinese and religious traditions, and guided by a firm moral foundation."
A key strategic priority for the newly established Centre is the enhancement of academic rigour regarding professional conduct. The CAE will collaborate closely with various academic units across the University to conduct a comprehensive review of programme syllabi. This partnership ensures that professional ethics teaching is integrated as an essential and mandatory component of the curricula, equipping students with the needed ethical discernment and required moral standards in their future careers.
In the meantime, the University is also preparing for the launch of a new Master of Arts in Ethics and Religion. This postgraduate programme will serve as a specialised academic extension of the Centre's core concepts, offering advanced study into the intersection of faith, culture, and moral philosophy to cultivate leaders with deep ethical insight.