In my eighth and probably final review as Chairman of the Council, I am very pleased to highlight the phenomenal progress that the University has made during the year.
First and foremost is the renaming of the former Hong Kong Institute of Education as The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) on 27 May 2016, upon publication of the Government Gazette. This achievement marks the perfect conclusion to the decade-long quest of the university title, and fulfils the long-held aspiration of generations of our alumni. The new university title is more than just a change of name. It necessitates revisiting our roles in the higher education sector, and our responsibilities to the wider community. As such, the Council held a retreat in September when this Report was under preparation to map the way forward. During the Council Retreat, my colleagues on the Council and members of the senior management undertook an in-depth review of the University’s vision and mission, future direction, future milestones and strategies. Conclusions from the Retreat have been crystallised and articulated in the Strategic Plan 2016-2025, and this important document will form the framework of, and guide the University’s development into the next decade.
In today’s keenly competitive international higher education arena, how a university fares in the global context is gauged against very demanding criteria. I am therefore extremely pleased with the results achieved by our University in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2016, in which EdUHK was second in Asia and 12th in the world in Education. The latest QS rankings bettered our previous positions of third in Asia and 15th in the world in Education attained in 2015. Equally encouraging was the record-breaking amount of donations received during the year, details of which will be covered in the President’s Overview and ensuing chapters. With the philanthropic donations and support which we are receiving from the community, I am certain that our University will further bolster our learning and teaching, research and knowledge transfer, and internationalisation activities.
A corporate manager by profession, I am fully aware of the difference that quality people can make to the success of any organisation, and how education can advance the quality of society. My belief in the importance and power of education underpins my unswerving and sustained passion to serve on many bodies related to education. As such, I feel most honoured to have had the privilege to serve on the Council since 2002, first as a member, then as Treasurer and currently as Chairman. At the same time, I am humbled by the fortitude and determination displayed by members of the then Institute, now EdUHK. Their continued and tireless efforts in pushing the boundaries of knowledge on all fronts, despite the many difficulties encountered, have allowed us to scale new heights.
From its founding as an institution providing programmes in education at mostly sub-degree and then degree level, to attaining self-accrediting status in education, expanding into postgraduate degrees in education and multidisciplinary programmes, and subsequently offering research postgraduate degree programmes, guided by the “Education-plus” vision, the University has indeed come a very long way. The successful revalidation of programmes and programme areas outside the education domain eventually led to the successful review of our university title application by the University Grants Committee (UGC). The repeated tests and obstacles were uphill battles which we fought with one heart and one mind. The outcome was the UGC’s recognition of our commendable progress in its review report. The prize was the award of the university title which this excellent institution rightfully deserves. During my tenure, I have personally witnessed this impressive growth and development, and I am very proud to have been associated with the transformation process of EdUHK.
During my years of service to the University, I have been blessed by the very strong support from my colleagues on the Council. To this end, I would like to thank recently retired Council members Mr Franky Leung, Professor Andrew Chan, Mr Patrick Ma and Ms Ruth Shek, and extend my warm welcome to new members Mr Alvin Chu, Professor Lui Tai-lok, Professor Chetwyn Chan, Ms Sylvia Chan and Mr Tony Choi.
I have always considered myself a rational thinker, not easily lapsing into sentimentality. However, when reflecting on my years of service to the University, what comes to mind are the fond memories of the people and the episodes during which colleagues and I were working to move the Institute forward into the small hours of the morning. I am therefore deeply grateful for the tremendous support I have received from everyone in EdUHK and the trust I have been given in discharging my duties.
The University has achieved great success, but the best is yet to come. With our increased strength and enhanced potential to attract highly talented academics and committed young people to join our ranks, I have every confidence that EdUHK will realise its ambition of becoming a leading university, with Education as its core mission, in the Asia-Pacific region and further afield, in the years to come.
Dr Pang Yiu-kai, GBS, JP
Chairman of the Council
December 2016
