A 21st Century University: HKUST Prof Tony F Chan, President The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
1 A Young University the World Pays Attention to
2 The Road to Academic Excellence
The Making of World-Class Research Universities
Philip G. Altbach and Jamil Salmi Editors © THE WORLD BANK Washington, D.C. 3 Triad of Success Factors: Building a World-Class University concentration of talent • Positioning • Geo, political, students economic teaching staff context researchers internationalization
research graduates output World supportive regulatory Class framework University abundant favorable public budget resources autonomy resources governance endowment revenues technology academic freedom tuition fees transfer research grants leadership team strategic vision culture of excellence Source: Salmi 2009 4 Role of a University
• Center of learning • Creation of knowledge, preservation of culture • Education of students – future society leaders – Self actualization, learn to learn, leadership – Vocation training • Independent, free, society think tank • Economic engine, training of workforce
5 Clear Goals and Unique Mission
“HKUST’s success difficult but not impossible to replicate. 21 years after its foundation, HKUST is now Asia’s No. 1 university.” 6 21 years ago, the Miracle University was born with Clear Goals and Unique Mission
The Foresight: In the 80s, Hong Kong foresaw its need for a knowledge-based economy with its great demand on talents of commerce and advanced technology.
Birth of HKUST with Clear Goals: Science & Technology for a smart society; to become the preferred regional university, positioned for national and global impact on selected academic specialties
Unique Mission: The first research-based university in Hong Kong, modeled on leading North American universities, attracting many of their outstanding scholars
1986 1987 1988
7 Today, HKUST is young but globally recognized
Ranked Asia’s # 1 university by QS 2 years in a row Ranked World # 33 university by QS Ranked World # 3 young university (under 50) by Times Higher Ed Ranked World # 1 EMBA program and World # 8 MBA program by Financial Times Ranked World Top 20 by QS all 5 Engineering subjects (Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering) Ranked World # 11 in Chemistry by QS Ranked World Top 50 by QS & THE in Social Sciences
8 9 HKUST’s Competitive Advantages • Convergence of timing, geo-politics, talents • English instruction • Vision: global focused elite research university • HK/China, 1 Country 2 Systems • Academic autonomy • Good governance • International, East meets West • Stable government funding
• Competitive compensation 10 Innovations in Academic Governance & Management
“Only first-class people attract other first-class people” 11 Innovations in Academic Governance and Management
Leadership: Combining the skills of preeminent scholars, scientists and world-class administrators Unique scholarly environment: Our culture is Eastern, but our academics & management are decidedly Western People management: Merit-based, transparent and benchmarked to the world Adopting a US Model: The most “Americanized” university in China Shared Governance: Faulty responsible for academic decision-making
12 HKUST Management
Court & Council
President Tony F Chan
PhD in Computer Science Stanford University
Prof Wei Shyy, Prof Joseph Lee, Dr Eden Y Woon, Prof YS Wong, VP for Institutional VP for Provost VP for Research & Administration Graduate Studies Advancement & Business PhD in PhD in PhD in Aerospace PhD in Mathematics Plant Biochemistry Engineering Civil Engineering University of Washington McGill University University of Michigan MIT
Director of Dean of Science, Dean of Engineering, Dean of Business & Dean of Humanities Dean of HKUST Fok Ying Interdisciplinary Prof Nancy Ip Prof Khaled Ben Letaief Management, & Social Science, Tung Graduate School, Programs Office, PhD in Prof Leonard Cheng Prof James Lee Prof Lionel Ni PhD in Electrical Prof Chi Ming Chan Pharmacology PhD in History Engineering PhD in Economics PhD in Electrical & Harvard University UC Berkeley University of Chicago Computer Engineering, PhD in Chemical Purdue University Purdue University Engineering Caltech 13 Talent Concentration
“Faculty is the soul of the university”
14 First-class International Faculty
100% with doctorate degree from top-notched universities around the world
· Caltech · MIT · Oxford · Stanford · UCLA · USC · Cambridge · Northwestern · Toronto · Carnegie-Mellon · Imperial · London · Chicago · Washington · Michigan · UC Berkeley · Wisconsin · Purdue · Columbia · Harvard · Yale · Cornell · Princeton · UBC · UCL · Illinois International professional network Tenure -track, assistant/associate/full prof faculty appointment
15 Faculty Achievements
30 IEEE Fellows at HKUST 33% of total IEEE Fellows in HK; won 3 IEEE best journal paper awards over last three years; ranked top 10 in the world in terms of no. of papers in 6 prestigious IEEE Transactions Journals 5 Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) members at HKUST Three elected to CAS from Hong Kong in 2011 - all are from HKUST. 3 HKUST projects were conferred the Awards for Research Excellence in Natural Sciences bestowed by the Ministry of Education in 2012
16 Talent Concentration
“The best students gravitate towards the best faculty”
17 High-calibre International Students
Highest % of non-local UG intake among UGC institutions: 20% (2012/13) (with 45% from China and 55% from other countries) Non-local students admitted with high average score of 37.7 points in IB Diploma (world average at 29.83)
18 High-calibre International Students
Over 35% of undergraduate students have 1 semester of exchange before graduation - aiming for 50% in three years Over 200 exchange partners worldwide, with over 600 exchange students enjoying on-campus accommodation UROP: To conduct faculty-led research in top overseas universities e.g. MIT: 1-on-1 and inquiry-driven approach
Internationalized Student Community
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19 Education Reforms
• 334 • School based admission • 1HKUST: interdiscipline, integration, community engagement • T-shaped education: breadth & depth • UROP/IROP • Entrepreneurship
20 Inspiring Learning Environment for Future Leaders
Student Integration
Over 100 voluntarily student organizations All-round education to serve the community e.g. HKUST Connect On campus experience activities International academic competitions Internship programs
HKUST Idol Innovation
“Innovation is the engine of economic growth”
22 Leading Research Capability
16% increase in total research funding (from 2010/11 to 2011/12)
HKUST Total Research Funding in 2011/12 Gov't & gov't- UGC: $82.1m related org: $59.7m 17% 13% HK Private 16% Funds: $75.5m RGC: $158m 33% 21%
Non-HK: $98.6m
Total: $473.9m Highest funding per faculty in Hong Kong Highest success rate of RGC grant applications among all public universities in Hong Kong: 44% (2012/13) 50 million RMB Mainland research grants in pipeline (including Shenzhen Peacock Program, and National 973 Program) 23 Interdisciplinary Research
Energy Frontier Life & Sustainable Public Research Health Development Policy Sciences Innovation’s Social Impact
Nurturing Entrepreneurial Spirit • Entrepreneurship Centre • One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition: Encouraging interdisciplinary collaborations: teams made up of faculty, staff, students and alumni from various Schools to develop new ventures
Technology Transfer: Close partnerships with China businesses
R&D Corporation (RDC) • Established joint ventures in the Pearl River Delta and beyond • Tripartite Partnerships e.g. with Peking University and the Shenzhen municipal government
25 Funding
• UGC/EDB structure • Triennium funding cycle • 2/3 gov $ + self financed program + fund raising • Gov: HK$200K per UG • Tuition: HK$40K local UG, HK$120K non-local UG • Restrictions on use of UGC $ • Endowed HK$18B RGC fund (annual HK$900M) • Gov matching scheme for fund raising
26 Governance • Council/Court • Senate: shared governance • Academic freedom enshrined in contracts • UGC ensures academic autonomy • 1 Country, 2 Systems • Most admin positions use global search • Deans/Dept Heads appointed, not elected • Assistant/Assoc/Full prof – no limit of ratio
• 7 yr to tenure 27
A leading global research university for China
“A research university does not exist in a vacuum”
28 A Global University in Asia’s World City
“The Best City in the World” (The Economist 2012) “World’s most freest economy” within One Country, Two Systems (Index of Economic Freedom 2013)
29 Our Role in China’s Miracle
Strategic Location of Hong Kong
One Country, Two Systems
Gateway to mainland China • World’s Second Largest Economy by nominal GDP • The Mainland and HK Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) • Strong Development of Greater Pearl River Delta (GPRD) • Enhanced Connectivity to China: “One-hour Intercity Circle”
30 Catalyst for Scientific Progress in China
Zhejiang Advanced Manufacturing XJTU - HKUST Institute Joint School of Sustainable Development
HKUST LED-FPD R&D Center (Foshan)
HKUST Shenzhen IER Buildings HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School (Nansha)
HKUST 31 Global Strategic Partnerships
With: California Institute of Technology (Caltech) EPFL- Lausanne, Switzerland École Normale Supérieure (ENS) University of Southern California (USC) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Oxford University Xian Jiaotong University Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology
In these areas: Student exchange Faculty exchange Research collaborations Joint programs Tripartite collaborations IROP
Executive education 32 Challenges
• 1 Country, 2 Systems constraints & opportunities • Global competition for talents & excellence • Rise of China => marginalization of HK? • S&T in HK • HK gov policy: not proactive/strategic enough? • Asian culture: exam-centric, vocation-centric • Too big? UG/RPG ratio • Still small alumni base 33
Lessons on Building a World Class 21st Century Research University • Importance of vision & positioning • Recruit best faculty & students • Secure stable funding • Academic autonomy • Good governance • Leverage geo-political-economic context • International <-> excellence
34 Thank you!
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