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HKUST 2014-2015
Annual Report
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
knowledge by organizing events, conducting research, and
developing cases for corporations. For example, the Value
Partners Center for Investing co-hosted six talks with the
Hong Kong Society of Financial Analysts while the Tanoto
Center for Asian Family Business and Entrepreneurship
Studies organized two seminars.
The Division of Humanities co-organized a series of lectures
with the Hong Kong Museum of History, with 14 talks given
during the year. In addition, public exhibitions and lectures
were held by the University Library. Scientific and technological
displays included “Discovering the Universe”, “Isomorphism
of Humans and Nature”, and “Design Thinking”.
The “Science-for-Lunch” series was organized for the fourth
year, with sponsorship from Maxim’s Group this year. Ten
HKUST professors gave presentations on their innovative
research and discoveries, focusing on topics such as big
data, cancer, and air quality. Participants included business
and community leaders.
SUPPORTING WORLD-CLASS
TEACHING AND LEARNING
The Second Inauguration Ceremony of Named Professorships
was held in April 2015 to honor four outstanding faculty
members and their benefactors. The professorships were
made possible by donations from four long-standing
contributors to higher education: Jebsen Educational
Foundation, Wong Check She Charitable Foundation, The
Swire Group Charitable Trust, and Li & Fung. Three further
professorships were established by Jebsen Educational
Foundation, Tencent Charity Foundation Limited, and Lam
Woo Foundation Ltd during the year. Named professorships
ensure the University maintains its excellence in education
and research by giving due recognition to exceptional
faculty.
A donation from the Wong Chak Chui Charitable Foundation
provided support for the University’s development and the
establishment of the International Enrichment Scholarship.
The scholarship offers assistance to financially needy School
of Business and Management students to participate in
overseas activities that offer valuable enrichment experience,
such as competitions and community projects. In recognition
of this generosity, the Lee Shau Kee Business Building lecture
theater was named after the late Mr Wong Chak Chui.
Mr Ho Ting Sik, who supported the establishment of Mr
& Mrs Ho Ting Sik Visitor Information Center 10 years
ago, made another donation for the Center’s revamp.
In October 2014, Mr and Mrs Ho Ting Sik officiated at
the opening ceremony of the renovated Center, which
was furnished with advanced and user-friendly display
technology. The Center provides comprehensive and latest
information about the University for visitors and members
of the HKUST community.
Several donations were also made to enhance educational
and research activities. iFlight Technology Company
Limited supported research projects in the Department
of Computer Science and Engineering and Department
of Electronic and Computer Engineering; Mr and Mrs Ian
Tang made a gift for general university development; Lee’s
Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd established scholarships for
students of the elite International Research Enrichment
program; Paul and Eileen Lin Endowment Trust sponsored
HKUST Connect programs; the Orr Foundation made a
donation to the Caltech-HKUST Visiting Associates Program
to enhance collaboration between the two institutions and
broaden exposure of HKUST’s junior faculty; and Hoi Wan
Trading Company Limited and Mr Daniel Yu supported Life
Science research.
PROPELLING FORWARD ALUMNI TIES
The flagship HKUST Alumni Endowment Fund had gone
from strength to strength since its launch in 2012. To date,
over $18 million had been received, including $1 million
in matching donations from alumna Ms Wenyan Jiang in
July 2014. Investment return of around $600,000 was
used to support initiatives for enriching the university life
of HKUST students.
The HKUST Convocation Committee continued to strengthen
relationships between alumni, the University and the
community as well as contribute to the University’s strategic
development. Mr Alvin Lam was elected President of the
HKUST Alumni Association (also known as A1) in October
2014 and Convocation Chairman in April 2015. In line with
its vision of “Alumni Inspire Alumni”, the A1 team organized
monthly events catering to alumni’s different interests.
To serve alumni better, the HKUST Alumni Association Limited
was officially inaugurated in October 2014.
