HKUST Annual Report 2017-18

36 Organization and Resources Following a rigorous global search, the University announced the appointment of Dr. Sabrina LIN as Vice-President for Institutional Advancement with effect from November 1, 2017. Before joining the University, Dr. Lin was a senior executive with extensive work experience across global technology companies, universities, entrepreneurial businesses, and different regions of the world. She was also an Adjunct Associate Professor at HKUST from 2010-16. In other senior administrative appointments: Ms. Terrenz WONG became Director of the Court, Council and Senate Secretariat; Dr. Simon LAW took up the post of Director of the Technology Transfer Center; and Ms. LEE Yong-Yong joined the University as Director of Internal Audit. FOSTERING FIRST-RATE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT HKUST seeks a performance-based culture to build the University into the employer of choice for leading talents and to achieve best-in-class operations as an effective organization. To this end, the on-going Non-Academic Staffing Review led to the launch of the Performance and Development Review (PDR) during the year and approval of the Merit Salary Adjustment Framework for eligible non- academic staff, which will come into effect on April 1, 2019. To support implementation of the PDR, a series of performance management training seminars and workshops took place to familiarize staff members with the new system and equip them with relevant skills. The University will also implement a new grading and salary structure for non-academic staff and introduce appointments under open-end contracts to make its employment terms more flexible and competitive. A records management seminar in November 2017 by senior officials from the Hong Kong government’s Government Records Service shared best practices and the latest tools for document management and archives in the public sector with University academic and administrative heads. Good records management is essential for the University to preserve its history and maintain effective operations in the long term. STRENGTHENING DIVERSITY The DiversAbility Team was renamed the Special Educational Needs (SEN) & DiversAbility Team to reinforce its objectives and services, which cover diversity, diverse- ability, integration, and equal opportunities. Administrative, teaching staff and students participated in training and activities on disability awareness in 2017-18. To raise further awareness and foster a disability- inclusive campus, a diversAbility festival took place in Fall 2017, with follow-up pop-up events in Spring 2018. “Empowerment through diversAbility” workshops on hearing impairment, mobility challenges and braille, celebrated people with different abilities while a meeting network of peers (MNOP) for students with special educational needs, was established. HONORING COMMITMENT As at June 30, 2018, there were a total of 3,620 full-time University staff in post. Four non-teaching staff members received the President’s Outstanding Service Award in December 2017 in recognition of their exceptional service and continued endeavors to improve the University. Another 25 faculty and staff members with 20 years’ service were presented with Long Service Awards to honor their loyalty and contribution to HKUST. Senior administrative appointments, additional moves toward best-in- class operations, and Campus Master Plan advances took place