Newsletter No. 213

NEW VICE-CHANCELLOR INSTALLED A ND 4,521 DEGREES CONFERRED AT THE UNIVERSITY'S 58th CONGREGAT ION A t the University's 58th congregation held on Thursday, 5th December 2002 at the University Mall, Prof. Ambrose Y.C. K i ng was formally installed as the fifth vice-chancellor of the University. Four distinguished persons were awarded honorary doctorates on the same occasion. Presiding at the ceremony was Dr. Lee Hon-chiu, Chairman of the University Council. The function also saw the conferment of first and higher degrees to 4, 517 graduates, who include the first batch o f graduates from the M B A Programme in Finance at Tsinghua University and the B BA Programme in Hotel and Tourism Management. The four recipients o f honorary degrees were Prof. Ji X i an l i n, eminent scholar i n oriental studies and world acclaimed expert in Eastern literature and languages; Prof. Ferid Murad, Nobel laureate in physiology/medicine 1998 and chairman o f the Department o f Integrative Biology and Pharmacology at the University of Texas-Houston Medical School; Ms. Lee Lai-shan, gold medallist in women's mistral in the Olympic Games 1996 and in the Asian Games 2002; and Dr. L u i Che-woo, distinguished entrepreneur and philanthropist and chairman o f K. Wah Group, K. Wall International Holdings Ltd., K. Wah Construction Materials Ltd., K. Wall Properties (Holdings) Ltd., and Stanford Hotels International. Prof. Ji was conferred the degree of Doctor of Literature, honoris causa, in absentia. Prof. Murad received the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa. Ms. Lee and Dr. Lu i were each awarded the degree of Doctor of Social Science, honoris causa. Their citations were written and delivered by Prof. David Parker and Prof Serena Jin. Their b r i ef introductions can be found on P.5 of this Newsletter. I n the a f t e r noon the f our constituent colleges, the Part-time Degree P r og r ammes, and the Graduate School (for master's degree graduates) also held graduation ceremonies for their graduates. B r e a k d own of Degrees Co n f e r r ed Honorary doctorates 4 Doctor of Medicine 6 Doctor of Philosophy 134 Doctor of Education 1 Master's 1,546 Bachelor's 2,830 Total 4,521 CUHK EMBA in Top Place Again T h e University's Executive MBA Programme has been ranked number one in Asia by the London-based Financial Times for the second time miming. The rankings were compiled on the basis of responses from 69 business schools and their 2,155 graduates. In celebration o f the news, the University hosted a reception on 12th November 2002 for its faculty members, students, and alumni, as we ll as social and business leaders in Hong Kong who have rendered support to the programme. The celebration was held i n the M B A Town Centre in the Bank of A m e r i c a T o w e r , Central. The Task Force to Advise on Institutional Integration Held Its First Meeting T h e Task Force to Advise on Institutional Integration of The Chinese University of Hong Kong held its first meeting on 26th November 2002. Members of the Task Force are drawn from different sectors of the University community to allow for effective channels o f consultation and communication wi th staff, students, alumni, colleges, faculties, and Council members. The task force w i ll explore how, in the face of intense global competition, The Chinese University can build on its strengths and make even greater contributions to higher education and the community at large. It w i l l also study the effectiveness of different models of institutional integration in producing the synergy and efficiency gains for the University to make qualitative improvements. To explore the desirability and feasibility of institutional integration, the task force wi ll consult widely and through different channels, and w i l l conduct a thorough and rational analysis of the issues involved. In due course it wi ll advise the University Council on positions and responses w i t h respect to integration proposals under different conditions and circumstances. The task force w i ll meet once or twice each month. No. 213 19th December 2002