Bulletin Spring‧Summer 1993

New Dean o f th eGraduat e Schoo l Prof. Kenneth Young has been appointed by the University Council as dean of the Graduate School from 1st March 1993, succeeding Prof. S.W. Tam. Aged 44, Prof. Kenneth Young graduated from the California Institute of Technology and obtained his Ph.D. in 1972. He worked for one year at Princeton University, and joined The Chinese University in 1973, becoming professor of physics in 1989. Prof. Young's research and publications cover a number of areas in theoretical physics. His current interest centres around dissipative quantum systems and their application to optics. Prof. Young was chairman of the Physics Department from August 1989 to December 1991. He was elected dean of science in October 1991 ， a post which he now holds concurrently with the deanship of the Graduate School. Prof. Young is a member of the Hong Kong Research Grants Council and of its Physical Science and Engineering Panel. He also serves on a number of other advisory committees for the government, including the Technology Committee of the Industry and Technology Development Council, the Radiation Board and the Radiological Protection Advisory Group. He has recently been appointed as a member of the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee (UPGC), Af i f t hcollege for postgraduate students? Should the Graduate School decentralize its administrative functions? New Dean' s Visio n o f the Graduat e Schoo l • Chinese University Bulletin • Prof. Kenneth Young • What do you consider to be the major forces that will shape the future direction of the Graduate School? How should the school adjust itself to changes like the tremendous increase in undergraduate intake or political developments in the territory? • The Graduate School at thi s university i s by now a mature institution, with a healthy base on which to grow. I do not see political developments as having a direct impact on the future direction of the Graduate School. I f one were to speak of driving forces from outside the University, then there are three related aspects that are relevant. The first is the development and restructuring o f the local economy, with a diminishing manufacturing secto r and a corresponding growth o f the service, managerial, technical and professional components, so that the societal demand for postgraduate education will increase, indeed has increased. The second and very closely related matter is the massive growth in undergraduate enrolment, which will feed the postgraduate intake. The third factor is the belated recognition by the government that a healthy tertiary education sector must be engaged in research, and that postgraduate students form a vital GRADUATE SCHOOL 13