HKUST Annual Report 2016-17

58 HKUST 2016-2017 Annual Report GOVERNANCE Under the HKUST Ordinance, the Council, Court, and Senate serve as the University’s three major governing bodies The Council In line with its fiduciary duties, the Council steers the University’s overall direction to ensure that robust institutional governance is in place. During the year under review, the Task Force to review Council effectiveness appraised University policies, regulations and procedures with reference to the roles and responsibilities of the Council and its committees. Following the release of the University Grants Committee (UGC)’s “Governance in UGC-funded Higher Education Institutions in Hong Kong” report in 2016, the Council has worked with the University management to address its recommendations, with a particular focus on the Council’s strategic planning role, the range of skills among Council and committee members, and induction and development requirements for members. The Council also maintained a dialogue with the UGC on a proposed “University Accountability Agreement” (UAA), a written accountability framework that would underpin the UGC’s relationship with all its funded universities. The UAA would enable external stakeholders to assess the performance and progress of the sector as a whole. To enhance the University’s accountability through greater transparency, the Council hosted a forum on governance in October 2016. At the forum, Council and University leaders discussed their roles, responsibilities, and latest initiatives with staff members, students and alumni. The Court The Court, the University’s supreme advisory body, met twice during the year to receive reports from the University management and the Council respectively. Members’ advice was sought on two key University initiatives: knowledge transfer activities; and the HeadStart@HKUST Program, which is centered on early workplace immersion and career development. The University management reported the success of several start-up companies and innovation projects as part of HKUST’s knowledge transfer endeavors. Student participants of the HeadStart@HKUST Program related their internship experiences with an array of corporate partners. In advice on University planning priorities, Court members emphasized HKUST’s need to keep abreast of the latest developments in higher education, such as online teaching, and to respond to the region’s competitive environment. The Senate The Senate, the supreme academic body, reviewed and approved a number of academic policies, in consultation with Schools and the respective committees, including a Strategic Framework for Taught Postgraduate Education. The Senate also approved the establishment of the Division of Public Policy under the Interdisciplinary Programs Office and the integration of the Division of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering to form the new Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.