1 February 2021
We are living in extraordinary times. It is a time of great technological progress, but at the same time, a time of upheaval due to the pandemic, geopolitical risks and other grand global challenges. A time of profound insights, and a time of uncertainty about the future. It is against this backdrop that I am joining Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) as its sixth President and Vice-Chancellor to serve its educational mission, and walk together with you along this extraordinary path set out before us.
HKBU is recognised for its vibrancy and service to the community, its excellence in delivering a liberal arts education and advancing scientific knowledge, and its creativity in pioneering inventions and new works that sing the praises of humanity. In this regard, I am indebted to my predecessors who have shaped the University into the magnificent institution it is today with their clear vision, wisdom and courage.
By building on this solid foundation, I will continue to steer HKBU to be one of the best research-led liberal arts universities in the world with a focus on its unique strengths. To me, it means caring about the development of each individual student, who has placed faith in university leaders that he or she will be transformed into an intellectually competent, empathic, caring and socially responsible global citizen. It also means a deep commitment to providing colleagues with an inspiring environment in which they can push the frontiers of knowledge and realise their innovative ideas. We are blessed to have the strong support of alumni and friends, and with the concerted efforts of the University community, I will ensure that HKBU continues to contribute to the advancement of the community and the world.
We have all witnessed first-hand how technology has changed our lives and the educational environment over the past decade or so. The widespread application and availability of artificial intelligence and big data have substantially changed the way we pursue knowledge and truth, as well as the career landscape. While some jobs have disappeared, others have been created. Many believe that we are only witnessing the beginning of the AI Revolution, and that more drastic changes lie ahead.
The pandemic, coupled with the heightened political tension worldwide, has accelerated this trend over the past year. Large parts of our lives have shifted to the virtual world. We work, learn and interact online. Travel and cultural experiences were impossible as many borders were closed.
Just as viruses cross borders, opportunities travel in a much more powerful way if we dare to dream the impossible. When students couldn’t get on a plane, innovative schemes of exchange and cultural enrichment were devised to take students to a higher plane. While we were uncertain how classes could achieve the same learning outcomes under these extenuating circumstances, innovative online teaching pedagogies blossomed, crafting the outlook of education in the future.
We all know too well that the future is unpredictable, and yet as educators, we need to make decisions about our academic programmes based on the best possible knowledge and foresights for the next 10 or even 20 years. For example, as video streaming services gain popularity thanks to the advancement of information technology and the pandemic, what will the entertainment industry look like in a decade or so? Or, will we one day receive Chinese medicine treatments based on AI and big data? The only constant in life is change, and preparing our students for an unknown world is challenging. On top of vocational and academic knowledge, it is all the more important to nurture their creativity, adaptability, resilience and empathy to cope with our ever-changing world and appreciate the many possibilities of life. These attributes cannot be taught in typical classroom settings, but rather developed through various curricular and extracurricular activities such as service-learning, internships, exchanges, and capstone projects. To this end, I will drive the creation of an inspiring learning and teaching environment at HKBU to prepare our students to embrace changes and thrive in the unchartered waters ahead.
The University is a cradle of discovery and knowledge creation, fostering impactful research which advances human life. Not only COVID-19, but new challenges on the whole are reaching epidemic proportions as the world has become more closely intertwined. Just as opportunities cross borders, only when we, as researchers, cross the boundaries of disciplines and collaborate can we make a significant impact on our communities and the world.
At HKBU, we can pride ourselves on having taken great steps in this direction. With the establishment of the six interdisciplinary laboratories focusing on the three strategic clusters, we have the ideal basis to produce research that can have a powerful impact. We are already seeing how the arts and creative media can marry well with science and technology. The fruits of these collaborations are helping artists and writers unleash their ingenuities and take the creation and appreciation of these works to new heights. We are also seeing top scholars across the University collaboratively tackle the grand challenge of ageing with excellent results achieved through maximised synergies. By leveraging our unique strengths, we are well-poised to venture into new areas and create new possibilities.
Knowledge transfer is often described as the "third mission", in addition to education and research, of modern universities. Knowledge transfer brings to life the impact of knowledge creation and innovative discoveries. The last few decades bore witness to the significant economic impact of knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship spearheaded by universities. Just as our researchers cross boundaries in their disciplines to create impact, we are now set to cross any boundary and reach for the stars in knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship. Extending our global reach and international collaboration efforts will be key to the advancement of excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer. To this end, fostering stronger links between HKBU, the private sectors and the Government, and bringing together international partners and experts, will be one of my priorities.
With Hong Kong’s unique position and strengths, HKBU plays an important role in the development of art, culture, media, sciences, and Chinese medicine. We are blessed with our competitive edge to become a truly international university with the endowment and opportunities offered by the nation. Indeed, HKBU has been a pioneer in the area of cross-border collaboration through the establishment of the Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC). Launched in 2005, this visionary endeavour will serve as the springboard for us to fly high in education and research, bringing tremendous benefits to HKBU and UIC, and the development of tertiary education in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
As a custodian of the values we hold dear at HKBU, I hope our scholars and students will find enlightenment, fulfilment and enjoyment in the quest for wisdom and truth. Together with all members of the University community, including students, colleagues, alumni, friends and supporters, let’s work together to bring hope to society and the world during this extraordinary time.