The Review 2014

THE REVIEW 2014 ⎜ 5 their research range through our own Strategic Research Themes initiative and collaboration with overseas institutions. Many of them are recognised by their peers as world leaders in their fields. Apart from making an impact in academia, HKU scholars have been actively bringing their findings into the community through knowledge exchange. I hope we can take these activities further by focusing more on the question of 'impact'. In the UK, my previous base, the impact of research in industry and the community has become a central consideration in the assessment of universities' research. Whether or not this becomes a feature of Hong Kong's formal research assessments, we need to understand the impact of our research: this will help us to attract funding, to explain our research to others and to ensure maximum productivity. We have a moral responsibility to engage the public in what we are doing and to use our knowledge to inform public debate. This is an area where HKU has much potential to lead in Hong Kong and the region, and we will be doing more in this direction in future. Engaging Mainland China and the World Education, research and knowledge exchange all involve looking beyond Hong Kong's boundaries for opportunities. Student recruitment and exchanges and research collaborations offer great potential for both students and staff to engage with Mainland China and the rest of the world. The University has initiated important projects in the Mainland, such as the Zhejiang Institute of Research and Innovation and Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation (ZIRI and SIRI respectively) that give us research bases north of the border. A people presence is important, too, and the University is close to hitting a target of 1,000 students and academics undertaking studies, exchanges and scientific research on the Mainland each year, under a project funded by the central government. The HKU-Shenzhen Hospital also deserves special mention. Through this initiative, the medical faculty has been able to provide students with exposure to a broader population and share its best practices with medical staff on the Mainland. It is also giving HKU academics improved access to Mainland research funds. It is not without risks, given the different working environment and cultural expectations, but the University is committed to doing its very best to maximise the opportunities and minimise the risks in this pioneering venture, which we believe will benefit the University in the long run. Political Engagement by Students and Staff Since I arrived at HKU, and well before, the Hong Kong community has been intensely engaged in debate about its political future. HKU's scholars and students have been ardent participants. That debate has escalated into civil disobedience in recent months, during which questions have been raised about the University's response. Our stance is to remain non- partisan, but principled. The University regards social awareness and caring for society as important values, but also a matter of personal choice. Protecting and respecting freedom of speech, expression and assembly, as well as academic freedom, are at the heart of what the University stands for. We support rational and respectful exchange of differing opinions. We have stressed to students and staff that acts should be lawful and non-violent and we have emphasised that all adults must anticipate, understand and accept the consequences of their actions. We have been providing whatever assistance we can to members of the University, especially students, if they are injured or face prosecution. Building a New Leadership Team I would like to mention one final thing and that is the senior personnel changes at HKU. My arrival signals not only a change in the person leading the University, but in the team. I would like again to thank Professor Tsui and his team for the remarkable job they have done in developing HKU as a world- class university. I will carry their legacy forward with a new team. By early 2015 I will have appointed five new Vice-Presidents and several new Deans. Some of the faces will be new to HKU, but this change will be underscored by continuity of our commitment to the best interests of the University. We will appoint the best candidates for the challenges and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. The University of Hong Kong is a fantastic place for any academic to be part of, with its bedrock of excellence and its brimful of possibilities. I look forward to leading it in the coming years. Professor Peter Mathieson President and Vice-Chancellor December 2014 Message from the President and Vice-Chancellor but a little more nerve in undertaking risks would be a good thing. Our students are clever and hardworking, and there are many opportunities out there for them. Related to this, I would also like students to think 'outside the box' in terms of their future careers. HKU graduates are extremely fortunate to have excellent employment opportunities, but this security inevitably limits their need to be entrepreneurial. More imagination in this aspect will be good for Hong Kong and its economic development. The University is fostering this mindset through its Entrepreneurial Academy. I hope to see more entrepreneurial activity on campus in future. Education, Research and Knowledge Exchange are Indivisible Education is the central work of universities; excellence in research is also essential if our academics and students are to make deep and lasting contributions that can benefit the whole of society. The research achievements at HKU have been fantastic. We consistently secure the highest funding allocation in the Research Grants Council's annual funding exercise, and we lead more Theme-based Research Scheme and Area of Excellence projects than any other institution. Our academics have also done an excellent job in seizing opportunities and widening