Bulletin Number Three 1984

'Another important function of the Colleges also emerged, namely, the development of a congenial cultural and intellectual environment for staff and students. ‘ (‘Introduction ’， Vice-Chancellor's Report 1978-1982 ； In three consecutive issues, the Chinese University Bulletin will publish articles written by the Heads of the three Colleges, which aim to give our readers a general idea of what efforts they have made in enriching the cultural life of the University community. — Editor The Intellectual and Cultural Facets of College Life - by Lee Cheuk-yu, Acting Head of United College One of the important functions discharged by the College is to promote the moral, intellectual, social, physical, and aesthetic development of the students. The provision of a congenial cultural and intellectual environment within the College by inviting local and overseas eminent scholars to share their views with us has benefited our students by broadening their outlook, and inculcating in them a proper attitude towards learning. This has been done through lectures, seminars and workshops. The speakers invited to speak on these occasions include distinguished scholars and experts from a wide variety of fields. There are various schemes established to cater to such needs, many if not all of which would never have been implemented without the financial support of the College Endowment Fund. One of the schemes financed by the Endowment Fund is the Distinguished Visiting Scholar Scheme, established in 1979-80. Under this scheme, scholars of international stature are invited to come live among us for a period of time, during which they are to deliver a series of public lectures on topics of their choice and make themselves available to interested faculty members and students. Visiting scholars included Professor C.N. Yang (State University of New York), Professor S. Schram (London), and Professor Ezra Vogel (Harvard). Another scheme, also financed by the Endowment Fund, is the Resident Fellowship Scheme, which came into being in 1982 to enable scholars from neighbouring countries to visit the College. During their stay of one month to one year, they are attached to a department and participate in various academic research/exchange activities. They are also involved in activities organized from time to time by the College to promote intellectual community life on campus (e.g., to deliver public lectures, participate in College projects such as the Project to Promote Bilingual Skills of Students). The College enjoys excellent relations with such multi-national corporations as IBM Corporation, Bank of America, and many overseas higher educational institutions. Because of such relations, we have been able in the past to arrange, on an ad hoc basis, for scholars/specialists in various fields/areas of speciality to come and deliver lectures when they pass through Hong Kong. Such lectures have greatly benefited faculty members and students. Among scholars and specialists who have come and lectured are Mr. George Ching (Vice-President, Bank of America), Mr. Gareth C.C. Chang (Vice-President, McDonnell Douglas Corporation, U.S.A.), Dr. Leo Rideout (Staff Member, IBM Corporation), Dr. George Fan (Director of Exploratory Systems, IBM Watson Research Centre, N.Y.), Professor Harold W. Lawson Jr. (Linköping University in Sweden), and Professor Per-Olov Löwdin (University of Florida). Lectures on general topics relating to culture, art, science, university life, etc. by prominent local figures in the public and private sectors are highlights of the monthly assemblies of students. In addition, most welcomed by our students is the Ivory Tower Lecture Series on more specialized topics regarding frontiers of research and social and political issues of topical interest. Still another kind of intellectual activity worth mentioning is the annual workshops organized to provide an opportunity for teachers and students to exchange experiences and views on social issues, thereby enhancing mutual understanding. Panel speakers are scholars and specialists invited from the University and from outside. Topics which have been discussed include 'Academic Spirit and Its Environment', 'Cantonese and the Culture of Hong Kong', ‘Sense of Values among Youth in Hong Kong', and 'Computer in Our lives'. On cultural development, the College sees as one of its main educational objectives the promotion and enhancement of students' awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage of the Chinese as well as other peoples. The German Cultural Week (6th-13th April, 1983) jointly organized by the German Studies Section and the College, was the first of its kind and received favourable response from staff, students and alumni. This was followed by the Chinese Cultural Festival (4th-29th October, 1983 )， and the Austrian Week (20th-25th February, 1984 )， which was co- sponsored with the Austrian Consulate-General, Hong Kong. Activities included traditional music and dances, exhibitions, lectures and cultural variety shows. 6 RECENT DEVELOPMENTS