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HKUST 2015-2016
Annual Report
59
The Court
The Court is the University’s highest advisory body,
comprising around 40 honorary members and 40
appointed members, and Members of the University.
The Court met twice during the year under review.
In December 2015, the Court reviewed and
gave advice to the development strategies
of the HKUST Leadership and Public Policy
Executive Education Programs (LAPP), which
aims to nurture the future generation of globally
minded leaders in government, corporate and
nonprofit sectors. In April 2016, Court members
shared their experience with participants during
a presentation by the President and faculty
members on the University’s internationalization
efforts and indicated their support to related
initiatives proposed by the University.
The Council
The Council is the University’s highest governing body.
It comprises 27 members, including a lay Chairman,
16 other lay members, and University representatives.
During the period under review, Council Members
had participated in a Council retreat in January
2016 and a consultation session in May 2016 to offer
their valuable advice to the University’s Five Year
Strategic Plan.
To further enhance good governance, a Task Force
was set up in August 2015 to review the Council’s
effectiveness in the fulfillment of its duties. Among
other issues, the Task Force is expected to review
the University’s policy and regulatory processes,
In accordance with the University Ordinance and Statutes, the Court,
Council and Senate are the three supreme bodies that constitute
HKUST’s governance structure
GOVERNANCE
and help co-ordinate necessary action arising from
recommendations in the University Grants Committee
report on “Governance in UGC-funded Higher
Education Institutions in Hong Kong”, released in
March 2016.
In response to the fast-moving international initiatives
in entrepreneurship and technology transfer,
the Council established a Knowledge Transfer
Committee in March 2016 to plan and develop
relevant strategies in this area.
The Senate
The Senate is the University’s highest academic body
which comprises over 60 members of the University.
Chaired by the President, members of the Senate
include the Executive Vice-President & Provost, Vice-
Presidents, Deans, heads of academic departments
and units, and other staff and student representatives.
Over the year, the Senate set out and reviewed
academic policies proposed and developed in
consultation with Schools and committees.
Apart from the new policies and regulations on
academic programs reviewed and approved by
the Senate, some additional measures have been
endorsed by the Senate with an aim to improving the
English language proficiency and presentation skills
of research postgraduate students (RPgs). Moreover,
in order to strengthen the manpower in launching
of various new initiatives in the Institute for Public
Policy and the Interdisciplinary Programs Office, a
framework of appointment procedure for non-tenure
track academic titles has been established.
