Annual Report 2003–04

University Presidents' Global Forum 2004. Forty-two university presidents from Australia, Canada, UK, US, mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong were invited to CUHK to explore the critical issues faced by universities in the new century. Topics addressed included the impact of IT developments on research and teaching, lessons learnt from technology transfer, the effects of globalization and international cooperation, the improvement of research universities, the role of ethics and values in teaching, interaction of the liberal arts with professional schools in research universities, and the future developments of tertiary education. The participants agreed unanimously that the exchange was extremely useful to the development of universities and the cultivation of talent in the 21st century. Major Academic Developments In the past year, the University Grants Committee (UGC) affirmed the University's role as a comprehensive research university and gave it support to launch the School of Law. The UGC issued a document in January 2004 differentiating the roles of the UGC-funded higher education institutions and making suggestions on how to promote their international competitiveness. CUHK was designated as a comprehensive research university. We welcome the role and will do our utmost to fulfil our mission in teaching, research and service. The University will proceed full steam to prepare for the establishment of a school of law which w i ll complete CUHK's growth as a comprehensive research university. In fact this had been one of the University's aspirations for over a decade. I made this project a key item on my agenda shortly after I assumed vice chancellorship. The Academic Development Proposals for 2005-8 approved by the University Senate in March 2004 included the setting up of a law school offering undergraduate and graduate legal studies as one of the major highlights. The rule of law is a major competitive advantage for Hong Kong and there is a growing demand for legal talent. CUHK will train quality legal professionals by recruiting the best students and providing them with the best learning experience. It will leverage on its existing strengths in the humanities and social sciences to put the study of law within a broad socio-cultural context. The School of Law will also contribute to 二十一世紀的大學應何去何從？這不只是對中 大，對全世界的硏究型大學都是很重要的課題。 我們特別主辦「二零零四年全球大學校長論壇」， 作為四十周年校慶的一項重點活動。論壇邀請了 四十二位來自澳洲、加拿大、英國、美國及中港 台三地著名大學的校長，探討大學在新世紀面對 的問題，如資訊科技對敎學和硏究的影響；科技 轉移的啟示；全球性競爭與國際合作的效應；硏 究型大學的改進以及道德和價值觀敎育的探討； 博雅敎育與專業敎育在硏究型大學裡的互動關 係，以及高等敎育的未來發展等等。參加者都認 為是次論壇極為有用，有助大學在二十一世紀中 的學術發展與人才培育。 成功定位 增設學院 今年中大有兩項重大學術發展：一是本校的硏究 型綜合大學定位獲政府確 認，二是本校獲准設立法 律學院。 大學於二零零四年五月十日舉行新聞發布會，公布籌備法律學院的詳情。左起為梁定邦博士、 金耀基校長和副校長廖柏偉敎授。 (From left) Dr. Anthony Neoh, Prof. Ambrose King, and Prof. Liu Pak-wai, pro-vice-chancellor , announcing plans for a law school at a pres conference on 10th May 2004 校長報告 Vice-Chancellor's Review 5