Two Chair Professors from the School of Engineering (SENG), Prof. SHAO Minhua and Prof. XIE Yuan, were recognized with prestigious named professorships at HKUST’s seventh inauguration ceremony for such honors on December 5, 2023. They were among a group of 10 eminent academics across the University to receive named professorships. The ceremony was officiated by HKUST Pro-Chancellor Dr. John CHAN Cho-Chak.

HKUST Council Chairman Prof. Harry SHUM said, “The recipients of this year’s Named Professorships have each made a significant impact on society through their research. They have contributed to HKUST’s continuous strive for excellence to make positive impacts to mankind. Our ability to honor this year’s inductees is founded upon the limitless kindness of our donors. We express our deepest appreciation for their ongoing support for HKUST’s mission, which allows us to provide an environment in which excellence can thrive.”

HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP congratulated the appointed faculty members and thanked donors’ generosity. “For the last decade, HKUST has proudly bestowed the title of Named Professor on over 70 faculty whose teaching and research achievements are worthy of the highest commendation. These scholars have excelled in both academic and pedagogical pursuits, exerting significant influence on various fields of study worldwide while also dedicating themselves to nurturing the next generation. We sincerely thank our generous donors for their support, which enables us to commend, reward, and attract academic leaders from diverse fields, working together with the University to reach new heights and contribute to society,” she said.

The two newly appointed name professors at SENG are:

Cheong Ying Chan Professor of Energy Engineering and Environment 
Prof. Shao Minhua
Head and Chair Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Director, Energy Institute

Fang Professor of Engineering 
Prof. Xie Yuan
Chair Professor, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering

The two professorships were made possible by generous donations rendered to HKUST from long-standing contributors to higher education, namely Stephen Kam Chuen Cheong Education Fund and Fang Brothers Holdings Limited respectively.

Prof. Shao and Prof. Xie joined eight other SENG named professors to bring the School’s total to 10.

Related link:

• HKUST press release (Dec 5, 2023): HKUST Holds Seventh Inauguration Ceremony of Named Professorships for Outstanding Faculty Members
• Video of the ceremony