But the road ahead is not without its bumps. Remember that this is a young university with a relatively
small student population and therefore a small alumni base. A young and ambitious university is a
hungry institution with a big appetite for growth and improvement, both of which presuppose a
sufficiency of financial resources. Without a sizeable endowment, and with a shrinking public purse,
maintaining quality through a critical period of expansion is a daunting challenge. In our case, the task
is made slightly easier by a constant cascade of achievements that invite the interested attention of
philanthropists. The pressure may be relentless. Still, as they say, I am cautiously optimistic.
Money, however, is only part of the equation. Quality in teaching and research is the ultimate benchmark
against which we measure our success. The quest for educational creativity and research excellence
calls for curiosity, cooperation and commitment. Every local institution of higher education is hard
at work in search of the magic formula that will turn the “3-3-4” reform into a story of educational
success. For us “Outcome-Based Learning and Teaching” is not just a fancy slogan for public
consumption. It is a shared goal of educating global citizens fit for the digital age.
This being my final year, I can be forgiven a momentary indulgence in sentimentality. I may not miss the
comforts of the President’s Lodge, or the social trappings of being the leader of Asia’s leading university
of science and technology. But I shall miss my colleagues who have been my comrades-in-arms for
the past seven years. Together, we have surmounted many obstacles major and minor. We have raised
the bar of achievement without lowering the threshold of expectations. I shall also miss the almost
paternal bond with the students who have been generous with their affirmation of our mission and
forgiving over my shortcomings. HKUST’s load of pride is mine to carry however far I travel, however
long I am gone from here.
The ultimate test of leadership, they say, is that after the leader has left, those who stay behind should be
able to carry on the mission without him. Of the various tests that I have been put to, this is one that I
can pass with flying colors: I am confident that the HKUST team will fulfill our shared mission.
HKUST 2007-2008 Annual Report
