48
HKUST 2014-2015
Annual Report
INTERNATIONAL AND
MAINLAND STRATEGY
HKUST extended Mainland engagement through research, academic,
and industry partnerships while strengthening its international profile
through delegations overseas, participating in leading global forums and
forging partnerships
MAINLAND PLATFORMS
Building a Strategic Presence
HKUST’s Mainland China platforms in Guangzhou, Shenzhen,
and Foshan, individually and as a whole, added further
dimensions to the University’s capabilities for research, teaching
and learning. Strategically positioned in the Pearl River Delta
region of the Mainland, they effectively raised HKUST’s presence
and provided valuable opportunities for collaborations with
other academic research institutions and industry.
In 2014-2015, Fok Ying Tung Research Institute in Guangzhou
served as the knowledge transfer hub for the University.
In addition, the Shenzhen Research Institute continued to
play a vital role in University’s innovation and technology
advancement in the Mainland and has developed extensive
collaborations with research institutions and enterprises.
Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center concentrated on
biomedical basic research, teaching and training and the
HKUST LED-FPD Technology R&D Center at Foshan focuses
on light-emitting diode research and development.
Active Interchange
More than 510 faculty and students participated in cultural
exchanges, community services and academic programs
through a collaborative scheme administered by the Ministry
of Education. In addition, the University received more than
70 high-level delegations from Mainland China in 2014-15,
comprising over 800 delegates from industry, government
and academia. Among those visiting were Prof Jianguo Hou,
Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology,
and Prof Chunli Bai, President of the Chinese Academy
of Sciences.
Preparations for the 14
th
National Challenge Cup, jointly
hosted by HKUST and Guangdong University of Technology,
got into full swing during the year. The contest is a premier
national competition for top university students to showcase
extra-curricular scientific and technological inventions.
This marked the first time that a Hong Kong university has
co-hosted the event.
President Prof Tony F Chan participated in the 2
nd
US-China
University Presidents Forum held at Rice University in Houston
in June 2015, together with delegates led by Madame
Liu Yandong, Vice Premier of China. He shared HKUST’s
experience in educating talent and research collaborations
with our Mainland and US counterparts.
In an informative talk at HKUST in November 2014,
Dr Mingkang Liu, first Chairman of the China Banking
Regulatory Commission, shared his views on challenges and
opportunities in the information age.
Building Industry Connections
The University management and faculty worked on
developing student internships, job placements, research
collaborations, and executive training opportunities with
leading Mainland enterprises, including Alibaba, Aviation
Industry Corporation of China, BGI, Digital China, Tencent,
Vanke, and other major enterprises. The University also
cooperated closely with Lenovo, a strategic industrial partner
in the areas of R&D collaboration, internship, job placement,
and executive training. President Tony F Chan and Vice-
President for Institutional Advancement Dr Eden Y Woon
met Dr Jack Ma, Founder and Chairman of Alibaba in
Hangzhou in April 2015 to explore cooperative opportunities.
Alibaba held recruitment talks and a technology forum at
HKUST.
Dr Eden Y Woon strengthened links with leading Mainland
companies at the invitation-only Yabuli China Entrepreneurs
Forum in February 2015.