The Review 2015

7 Message from the President and Vice-Chancellor The Review 2015 The HKU Senior Management Team Seated (from left): Professor Paul Tam, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Mathieson, President and Vice-Chancellor Dr Steven Cannon, Executive Vice-President (Administration and Finance) Standing (from left): Mr Henry Wai, Registrar Mr Douglas So, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Institutional Advancement) Professor Andy Hor, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) Ms Sara Lo, Director of Finance Professor John Kao, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global) Professor Ian Holliday, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) We have a l so deve l oped st rateg i c, bi l atera l partnerships with other high-quality universities, including 18 joint degree ar rangements wi th institutions such as University Col lege London, the University of Southern California and Sciences Po in France. Our 2022 target to provide students with opportunities all over the world, including the Mainland, will further our aim of being a university that is not only world-class, but has a global vision. Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy The fantastic achievements of the past year have been somewhat overshadowed in the public eye by events relating to the University’s governance. I would like to briefly highlight two important points that have been raised. Academic freedom remains sacred at HKU and it is as sound as ever. However, our institutional autonomy has been tested, much as it is tested in any publicly-funded institution from time to time. We should take it as a compliment that students, staff, alumni, funding bodies, politicians, the media and others all have an interest in the University and want to influence its governance. The job of the Senior Management Team is to take these views into account and come up with policies and decisions that are in the University’s best interests. My team has welcomed new members over the past year and collectively, we have a massive amount of experience in different countries, sectors and subjects. We are extremely well-placed to reach judgments and derive policies and practices that will serve the University of Hong Kong very well. The complications of the past year aside, HKU has continued to develop foundations for a bright future. There is excellent work being done here and it is valued in the world. This is precisely the time to aim higher and think bigger. I see great things happening at HKU, and even greater things to come. Professor Peter Mathieson President and Vice-Chancellor December 2015