HIGHLIGHTS
Preparing for a Paradigm Shift
The monthly publication of AmCham biz.hk carried an interview with Dean of the Business School Professor Kar Yan Tam. He shared his views on how innovation has shaped the world of business and how business education can equip graduates and senior executives alike with the skills necessary to succeed in the ever-changing landscape of global business driven by multiple forces. He noted that the increasing impact of technology has opened new opportunities for young graduates who have the knowledge and passion to invest into startups. Thus, the core values of innovation and entrepreneurship would be one of the important aspects of the School, in addition to a global perspective, a continued path of academic research “anchored on relevance” as well as academia-business collaboration.
Pledge to Internationalization (11 July)
Sing Tao interviewed Professor Kar Yan Tam, Dean of the Business School, on his plans to lead the School forward. Professor Tam pledged to enhance the School’s innovation and entrepreneurship education, saying that technology advancements have provided a wealth of new opportunities for both the young generation and experienced executives to start their own businesses. With strengths in science and technology at HKUST, Professor Tam said the School was well positioned to help students realize the potential of technology and innovation, so that they could bring positive impacts on business and society. The School would provide internship opportunities in startups and continue collaborating with corporations to offer more enriching and real-life learning activities like corporate projects and international case competitions.
Radio Interview on Technology Development (12 July)
Commercial Radio interviewed Professor Kar Yan Tam, Dean of the Business School, on technology and entrepreneurship. He said technology advancements encouraged and provided a low-cost platform for many creative young people to start their businesses, especially with more resources and support provided by the government, venture capitals, and university collaboration projects. As a founding faculty of the HKUST Business School and the GBUS program, Professor Tam said he saw the growing interest among students in the field of information technology and explained the skills and knowledge required to be a big data expert. He also talked about the roles of the Steering Group on FinTech formed by the government last year, where he was one of the members. The Group has advised the government, among others, to set up a platform to support Fintech startups and incentivize research and experience-sharing activities. P2P and crowding fund were areas that Hong Kong could be further developed providing a sound regulatory framework to support the move, he added. Link
KH Executive MBA Graduation (16 July)
The Wall Street Journal and SCMP carried supplements marking the Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA program graduation ceremony. The supplements cited remarks made by Dean of HKUST Business School Professor Kar Yan Tam and Dean of Kellogg School of Management Professor Sally Blount, stressing the combined strength of the two partnered Schools. The articles also featured some of this year’s 55-strong class of graduates and their rewarding learning experience. Meanwhile, Professor Vidhan Goyal, who was voted Professor of the Year talked about his rewarding teaching experience, saying that the EMBA award was his greatest achievement so far.
Networking Development (29 July)
Phoenix TV Online Channel interviewed Professor Xu Yan Associate Dean (EMBA Program, Executive Education Program, and China Strategy) on networking development and technology in China and Hong Kong. Professor Xu offered his comments on the pace of innovation technology development, the power of internet technology to drive the economy forward, how China could unleash its potential and how Hong Kong could step up cross-broder or business-academic collobration. Link
OTHERS
Globalization and China (27 July)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Professor Edwin Lai, Department of Economics. Professor Lai discussed the global value chain and China’s role in the “international fragmentation of production”. He said globalization would cause uneven impact, and any government involved should be responsible, for example, to re-train unemployed workers to minimize the negative sentiment towards globalization. Link
Popular Programs Among DSE Top Scorers (25 July)
Xinhua News reported on some popular programs in Hong Kong among DSE top scorers. The report said apart from the traditional favorite options like Medicine and Law, GBUS was another hot pick. Professor Emily Nason, Program Director of the Program, was quoted as saying that about 40 % of GBUS graduates joined the finance and banking sectors, while 7% started their own businesses, according to recent data. Link
Factors Make Teams More Innovative (20 July)
SCMP Education Post carried a research summary by Chair Professor Larry Farh, Department of Management. His study looks into innovation by individuals and teams, and how they interact and what can managers do to maximize their combined potential for innovation. Link
Arbitration Over the Sovereignty of South China Sea (19 July)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried an article by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development. Professor Lui commented on the arbitration over the sovereignty of South China Sea, saying that the Nansha Islands have been inherent Chinese territory since ancient times and questioning the ruling by Hague Tribunal and its jurisdiction to decide the case. Link
Grassroots Vs Elites – A Political Phenomenon (19 July)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Adjunct Professor Jerome Yen, Department of Finance. Professor Yen discussed the voting decision made by the Britain to exit EU and the growing support of Donald Trump in the US, which signaled a widening gap between grassroots and elites in a society. He called on governments of any countries to avoid policies inclined or favorable to the elites or the middle class. Link
Exchange in the US (12 July)
Wen Wei Po carried a contributed article by an undergraduate student Kevin Wong on his exchange program to the US. Wong talked about his unforgettable and rewarding experience at the University of South California. Link
Brexit Effects (12 July)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Adjunct Professor Jerome Yen, Department of Finance. He commented on the impact of Brexit and reminded investors of the potential and scale of a global correction, like the extent of the financial crisis between 2008 and 2009. Link
GBUS Nurtures Entrepreneurs
SCMP Higher Ed Magazine featured the GBUS program highlighting that it is cradle of business leaders. The program sees a growing number of graduates venture into new businesses citing several success startup stories formed by the program alumni.
Call for More Doctors to Alleviate Pressure (8 July)
Sky Post carried an article by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development, discussing the Legislative Council’s debate over the government’s proposal to reform the medical watchdog and the shortage of doctors in the city. Professor Lui said Hong Kong could make reference to Singapore, where the city accepts with some conditions graduates from 157 well-known medical schools worldwide to practice. Link
HKUST Claims Top Spot in Public Perception Poll (8 July)
Most local dailies (including the Standard, Sky Post, HKET, Ta Kung Pao, among others) reported the annual opinion poll conducted by HKU and Education18.com on the ten local publicly funded universities. In one of the polls that interviewed 1,222 local residents, HKUST has claimed the top spot in the public perception for the first time since the survey conducted 2004. Meanwhile, graduates of HKUST came third when respondents were asked which institution’s graduates would be preferred when they looked for a new employee. Link to the result
Impacts on Brexit on China (6 July)
Yazhou Zhoukan (亞洲周刊) carried an article by Professor Francis Lui on the impact of Brexit on China. He explained the direct and long-term consequences, including the plunge of sterling, the effect on the mainland reserve, and the shift of negotiation power between the two countries. Link
Evidence That Stock Options for Chinese SOEs Are Not Genuine (6 July)
SCMP Education Post carried a research summary by Associate Professor Chen Zhihong, Department of Accounting. His study looks into the nature of stock compensation options in state-controlled Red Chip firms, and how they are implemented and their impact on firm performance. Link
Time to Remove “Zombie Enterprises” (6 July)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Professor JT Li, Head of Department of Management. Professor Li explained why the mainland government should take immediate steps to remove the “Zombie Enterprises” in China, which referred to those companies that needs bailouts in order to operate. It was a move to avoid risk to the mainland financial market, he said. Link
Business Insights (6 July)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a supplement featuring another HKUST Business Insights Series seminar held in Central. The featured recapped the seminar highlights, which addressed issues on managing networks for business and career development. Associate Professor Bilian Sullivan and Assistant Professor Yonghoon Lee, both from Department of Management, shared their thoughts on networking and the essentials of good networking.
Brexit: A Lesson Learnt (5 July)
Ta Kung Pao carried an article by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development, discussing the implications of Briexit and the price British would pay for the voting decision. Professor Lui also talked about the referendum, populism, and the dark side of politics. Link
Fast-Learning Greenhorns Benefit Most from Overseas Assignments (5 July)
Global Network for Advance Management (GNAM) carried a research summary by Assistant Professor Jing Zhu, Department of Management. Her study looks into international assignments, which become more prevalent in the workplace and there is a common belief that they are a stepping stone to faster promotion, while her research shows there has been inconclusive evidence to back up this claim. Link
Newsweek Features “AACSB Accredited Schools”
Newsweek.com carried a special supplement featuring the best AACSB accredited business schools in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The supplement introduced the background of AACSB saying that
AACSB International has been the top accrediting organization in the world and AACSB-accredited schools are considered to be the best business schools. In an article featuring the HKUST Business School, it says that the School has been AACSB accredited since 1999, highlighting its international character with Asian Focus and extensive international network as well as a comprehensive list of highly-ranked and innovative programs. Link