HKUST Installs New President and Confers Honorary Doctoral Degrees on Three Distinguished Academics and Community Leaders at its 26th Congregation

HKUST Council Chairman Mr. Andrew LIAO Cheung-Sing (middle) and Council Vice-chairman Prof. John CHAI Yat-Chiu witness Prof. Wei SHYY (right)’s installation as HKUST’s new president. [Download Photo]

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) held the installation of its fourth President Prof. Wei SHYY cum 26th Congregation (November 16) today. The University also awarded honorary doctorates to three outstanding individuals in recognition of their distinguished achievements and contributions. This year’s recipients were (surname in alphabetical order):

Henry CHENG Kar-Shun, Chairman and Executive Director of New World Development Company and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group – Doctor of Business Administration honoria causa
Carol DWECK, Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University – Doctor of Business Administration honoria causa
Martin TANG Yue-Nien, former Vice-Chairman and Acting Chairman of the HKUST Council – Doctor of Letters honoria causa

Commemorating the recent passing of the University’s founding Council Chairman Dr. CHUNG Sze-Yuen, current University Council Chairman, Mr. Andrew LIAO Cheung-Sing, led the graduates and guests at the congregation today to observe a moment of silence, paying tribute to the paramount contribution that Dr. Chung made to HKUST.

“Dr. Chung, as one of the key founders of HKUST, had laid strong foundation for HKUST to grow in its incipient stage and flourish with clear mission and vision to nurture science and technology talent who are instrumental in driving the economic and social developments in Hong Kong and beyond. Let’s not forget the mission bestowed upon HKUST and I hope and believe, Prof. Wei Shyy, installed today as the fourth President of HKUST, will, from strength to strength, lead the University in this everlasting endeavor and bring us to new heights,” said Mr. Liao.

Prof. Wei Shyy – who assumed office on September 1, 2018, was capped by Mr. Liao during the installation ceremony. In his installation address as the HKUST President, Prof. Wei Shyy pledged to do his best in continuing HKUST’s mission of assisting the economic and social development of Hong Kong and beyond. He talked about the major challenges and opportunities in front of HKUST, and mentioned establishment of a new Guangzhou campus, and a Sustainable Smart Campus initiative that will turn the HKUST campus into a living laboratory.

Addressing the Congregation, he also congratulated the graduates in his first congregation speech, exhorting them to follow their hearts and help solve the world’s challenges as they turn over a new page. “In the present era, the advancement of science and technology has created a huge, positive impact on our lives; it has also caused global problems such as inequality in wealth distribution, sustainability of the globe, and social mobility of citizens,” Prof. Shyy said. “The persistent divide between the classes of ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ can’t be accepted and tolerated. We count on you to make a difference, and I am confident that you can find solutions to combat these challenges in whatever role you choose to play in the future.”

The Congregation also saw two awards presented to faculty and student. Prof. SONG Shenghui, Associate Professor of Engineering Education in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering (ECE), was awarded Michael G. Gale Medal for Distinguished Teaching – HKUST’s highest accolade in teaching. Meanwhile, Chloe CHAN Ho-Sum, a Year 3 Chemical and Biological Engineering student, was awarded the Stephen Cheong Kam-chuen Medal for Distinguished Service to the Student Body.

The 26th Congregation conferred 2,345 bachelor’s degrees, 2,454 master’s degrees, and 273 doctoral degrees, bringing HKUST’s alumni network to a total of 72,300.

For the address by President Prof. Wei Shyy and citations of the three Honorary Doctorate recipients, please visit: https://congregation.ust.hk/

Biography:
Dr. Henry CHENG Kar-Shun is Chairman and Executive Director of New World Development Company and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group. An ardent supporter of education, Dr. Cheng funded a number of projects including “The New World Mathematics Awards” as well as Wu Zhi Qiao (Bridge to China) which enables professionals, volunteers and university students, including those at HKUST, to build bridges in poorer parts of China. Dr. Cheng has supported HKUST’s research on Alzheimer’s disease and the construction of its Cheng Yu Tung Building, he is also an Honorary Court member of the University. He was awarded the Grand Bauhinia Medal in 2017 and was a Standing Committee member of the Twelfth Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Prof. Carol DWECK is the formulator of the “growth mindset” theory and one of the most renowned researchers in the field of motivation and development. Arguing one’s intelligence is not innately determined but can be grown and developed by perseverance and educational strategies, Prof. Dweck’s groundbreaking body of work has generated 90,000 citations. Her ideas were cited by the World Development Report in 2015, adopted by the English Schools Foundation in Hong Kong, and recently introduced to the curriculum of HKUST School of Business and Management. Her book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” that was published in 2006 remains a bestseller today and has been translated into 25 languages. She is also the recipient of multiple fellowships and 10 lifetime achievement awards.

Mr. Martin TANG Yue-Nien is the only son of cotton spinning and garment business magnate Dr. Jack TANG Chi-Chien. Yet instead of following his father’s footstep as was expected, he found his passion in executive search, and located many senior executives, especially in the education sector. When Mr. Tang joined Spencer Stuart & Associates, he helped build what was then a struggling branch in Hong Kong into a regional powerhouse. Mr. Tang helped strengthen appointment-related procedures when he first joined HKUST Council in 1993. After membership of the Court (1999-2003), Mr. Tang returned to the Council as Vice-Chairman from 2013-2015 and stepped up as Acting Chairman in 2014. Today, Mr. Tang maintains his ties as an Advisory Board member for the Institute for Public Policy.

Prof. SONG Shenghui is the Associate Professor of Engineering Education in ECE Department. Since he joined HKUST in 2009, he has won numerous teaching awards, including the School of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award 2012-13. He is also a three-time recipient of the Best Ten Lecturers. He supervised numerous students in final year projects and UROPs, of whom some are multiple award winners. He put efforts into developing new teaching initiatives including MOOCs, experiential learning courses and blended learning course. His dedication to engineering education has earned very positive comments from both learners and his fellow colleagues.

Chloe CHAN Ho-Sum, a Year 3 student of Chemical and Biological Engineering, was appointed President of the Students` Union Provisional Executive Committee for the 2017-18 Session by the Students` Union Council, when all of the SU Executive Committee positions fell vacant. With only a small team, she showed strong commitment in serving the student body and demonstrated her leadership while coordinating student events and serving as the student representative of various University committees.