Governance

Major strategic issues have come before HKUST's governing bodies in 2002-03, resulting in initiatives to ensure the University's continued progress, notwithstanding the current financial constraints on higher education in Hong Kong and growing global competition for students and faculty.

The Senate, the University's supreme academic body, adopted a HKUST Statement on Quality Teaching to recognize and reward excellence and effective teaching practices.

In a self-assessment of the University's governance and management structures, the Council, the University's overall governing body, noted that many of HKUST's current practices are in line with the best practices highlighted in the Report of the University Grants Committee on Higher Education in Hong Kong (The Sutherland Report), published in March 2002.

The Council also adopted a revised faculty salary and rank system to foster a change in the philosophy of resource management. Top points on salary scales have been lowered, but off-scale arrangements allow merit-based flexibility, enabling the University to remain competitive in the international academic market. The move went into effect on 1 July, 2003.

Meanwhile, the Court, the top advisory body, held joint meetings with the University Council to discuss fundraising capabilities and plans.

All three governing bodies were involved in discussions on the Government's proposal for institutional integration between HKUST and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

On 4 October 2002, Secretary for Education and Manpower (SEM) Prof Arthur Li raised the idea of integration between the two universities. President Prof Paul Chu held a series of forums with faculty, staff, students and alumni to discuss the matter. On 25 Oct 2002, a task force was established, comprising 18 members: four from Council and Court, three Vice-Presidents, four Deans, four faculty from the four Schools, the Chairmen of the Staff Association, Students' Union and Alumni Association.

On 8 Dec 2002, the University Council endorsed the report of the University's task force, which identified four critical issues that need to be addressed as principles for a successful outcome from integration, namely the objectives of integration, resource implications, the institutional standard for research, and organizational culture.

In February, SEM paid an informal visit to HKUST and exchanged views with the senior management. During the visit, SEM made his response to the four critical issues, which was reported to the University community in an email from the Council Chairman Dr John Chan and President Prof Paul Chu.

In March 2003, discussion of the matter was put aside due to the outbreak of SARS.