Bulletin No. 2, 2015

O nce upon a time, when access to education was largely the privilege of the social élite, it was believed that knowledge should be pursued for its own sake. While there is beauty in that idea still, times have changed. Knowledge is seen as much a means as an end, if not more. The United Nations considers education a fundamental human right, a tool by which the marginalized can lift themselves out of undesirable existences and the privileged can help them do so. Latin and Classical Chinese still have their place in our world, but modern societies also need to create the kind of knowledge that solves real-world problems and brings about practical changes. Knowledge transfer is often described as a university’s ‘third mission’, after teaching and research. There are many ways to transfer knowledge to society. Traditionally, professors can contribute to the total volume of global knowledge by publishing; they can also patent technology- centred discoveries and inventions, and create start- ups to commercialize them. More recently, they can bring their knowledge directly to the community through the rendering of consultancy services, contract research, or, occasionally, community projects. At The Chinese University of Hong Kong, endeavours related to the last, amongst other knowledge transfer efforts, are taken care of by the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services (ORKTS). Knowledge Delivered to the Doorstep— Knowledge Transfer Project Fund 2 Chinese University Bulletin No. 2, 2015