HIGHLIGHTS
Kellogg-HKUST EMBA Celebrates Seventh World No.1 (18 Oct)
Regional (, Nikkei, Business Because, P&Q) and local media (SCMP, HK Economic Times, Ming Pao, Wenweipo, Takungpao, Sky Post, Sina, Commercial Radio, HK01, Sing Tao, Yahoo News) reported that the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA program has regained its world’s No.1 title in the 2016 FT EMBA rankings. Most reports highlighted that the program has achieved the top spot for the 7th time and the graduates’ highest average salary of HK$3.6m three years after graduation.
The alumni who joined a press conference held by the School talked about the strong network that they could build. Program Director Judy Au attributed the program success to the high quality and diverse mix of students and the uncompromising admission requirements, while Academic Director Professor Chris Doran introduced the new courses offered. The remarks made by President Professor Tony Chan and Dean of Business School Professor Kar Yan Tam in the press statement were cited, underscoring the shared vision and the unique East-West partnership in offering the program for global leaders.
The media also reported on the other two top performers (Tsinghua-Insead and Trium:HEC Paris/LSE/Stern) as well as two local EMBA programs offered by CUHK (No.37) and HKU-Fudan International MBA (No.42). A number of mainland news portals, including China Broadcast Net, China Economic Net, Shanghai Observer, First Finance, FinanceChina, Xinhua Net, Sina, China.com, Finance Channel, Jiemian, also reported on the results, highlighting that the Kellogg-HKUST EMBA together with three mainland programs: Tsinghua-Insead EMBA (No.2), Washington-Fudan EMBA (No.5) and Antai EMBA (No.7) have been rated on the top ten list.
HKUST Featured on ViuTV (30 Oct)
ViuTV featured HKUST on its new program called “University Secrets”. The program aims to introduce the eight UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. On its inaugural episode, President Professor Tony Chan talked about the mission and values of HKUST, while Business School Associate Dean (UG Student Affairs) Professor Emily Nason and Science School Associate Dean Professor Pak-wo Leung introduced the two schools’ curriculum and highlighted programs, including GBUS and BSc in Biotechnology & Business. Professor Nason also talked about the enriching learning activities and exchange opportunities provided for students, whereas two GBUS students shared their positive learning experience and life on campus. Link (15’50” on Business School, and the program will have two more episodes on HKUST on 6 and 13 Nov)
QFIN Program Featured in Young Post
SCMP Young Post published a special supplement on popular courses offered by local universities, featuring among others the BSc in Quantitative Finance (QFIN) and BSc in Environmental Management and Technology by HKUST. Professor Vidhan Goyal, Head of the Department of Finance, says its QFIN Program is designed to equip students with a balance of quantitative techniques, mathematical modelling, statistics, computer programming, and economic theory, all of which are essential for solving problems in finance. Ben Chen, who is currently interning in Shanghai, said his QFIN studies have proven useful as he could understand some of the complex finance areas, making a good impression with his employers. Link (P9-10)
OTHERS
Disrespectful Conducts at Legco (28 Oct)
Sky Post carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of Center for Economic Development. Professor Lui criticized the use of foul language in Legco and the lack of respect and responsibilities of the two newly elected lawmakers from the Youngspiration, a new political group. Link
Making E-Government Work (26 Oct)
SCMP Education Post carried a research summary by Professor James Thong, Head of ISOM. His research looks into the benefits and challenges of government services online and how citizens’ utilization and satisfaction with e-government services can be increased. Link
Development in Singapore (25 Oct)
Mainland magazine Time Weekly interviewed Professor Xu Yan on his view over the pace of development in Singapore. Commenting on innovation and entrepreneurship developments in the country, Professor Xu said the Singapore Government has invested substantially in technology innovation and entrepreneurship, yet with a lackluster performance on “output” or failure to incubate enough innovative enterprises. He added innovation should refer to “something new that can make money”. Link
China Needs to Stabilize RMB (25 Oct)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Adjunct Professor Jerome Yen, Department of Finance. Professor Yen shared his view on steps the mainland government could take to stabilize the RMB exchange rate. He put forward the idea of “Balance Sheet Hedging”, which could help China contain some risks on the financial market. Link
“Legco Oath-Taking Incident” (20 Oct)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of Center for Economic Development. Professor Lui commented on the oath-taking incident by Youngspiration lawmaker Sixtus Leung and the ongoing debate in Legco, which he said would affect local economy. Link
“Black Swan” in Europe and the US (18 Oct)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Adjunct Professor Jerome Yen, Department of Finance. Professor Yen expressed his views on the economy amid the Deutsche Bank’s fine over mis-selling mortgage securities in the US, European politics and the US presidential election. Link
HK’s Family Firms Struggle to Merge Tradition with Young Ambition (15 Oct)
SCMP carried a feature on the young generation of traditional family businesses in Hong Kong and their willingness to join the family business. Professor Roger King, Director of the Tanoto Centre for Asian Family Business and Entrepreneurship Studies, said individuals were now increasingly prioritizing family over business. He added that that ownership pruning and diversification were the key factors for sustaining family businesses. Link
The Economist MBA Rankings (14 Oct)
A few local dailies reported on in the latest full-time MBA rankings by The Economist, in which HKUST MBA was ranked 70th worldwide, up from 78th last year. Link
Credit Supply and Corporate Innovation (12 Oct)
SCMP Education Post carried a research summary by Assistant Professor Alminas Zaldokas, Department of Finance. His research studies the developments in the banking industry and how they affect technological progress. Link
HKUST Team Wins Silver Place in Cybathlon (11 Oct)
A number of local dailies reported that an HKUST team won the silver place in the very first Cybathlon in Zurich. The competition aims to provide a platform to encourage people and researchers in the world to design robotic assistive devices for members of public with disabilities. A Global Business (GBUS) student Rachel Cheng teamed up with six Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering students to the form the HKUST team and won the world No.2 in the “Powered Wheelchair Race”. Link
Reforms in Mainland State and Central Enterprises (11 Oct)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Professor JT Li, Head of Department of Management. Professor Li discussed the reforms in China and the latest developments of mainland state enterprises and their relations to the latest corporate reform guidance. Link
Commentary on Education in Hong Kong (7 Oct)
Sky Post carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of Center for Economic Development. Professor Lui commented on the local education system, saying that some young people failed to listen or accept views which were different from themselves. Link
Students Shine at Marketing Strategy Competition (5 Oct)
Oriental Daily reported on the L’Oreal Brandstorm 2016, an annual university marketing strategy competition. A team formed by three HKUST students won the champion and shared their winning tips. Link
New Driving Forces in China (4 Oct)
Ta Kung Pao carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of Center for Economic Development. He shared his view on China’s economic development and the underlying potential in environmental protection and medical science. Link
The Apple Tax Ruling – A Contradiction Among EU Members (4 Oct)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Lecturer Kevin Mak, Department of Accounting. He shared his views on the recent EU order against Apple in paying €13bn in back taxes to Ireland and its implications over investment in Europe. Link
Job Cuts Mount as Asian Investment Banking Fees Slide (3 Oct)
Reuters and the Straits Times carried comments by Associate Professor Lafon-Vinais Veronique, Department of Finance, on the recent job cuts in investment banking in response to their operations scale-back in Asia. She said investment banking revenues in Asia have historically tilted towards equity capital market (ECM). Now that Chinese banks were coming in strong, there was way more competition, she added.
Korean Media Reports
Korea daily Financial News carried an interview with Professor Utpal Bhattacharya, Department of Finance, during his visit to the US for an international conference held by the US-Korea Finance Association (KAFA). Link (Korean)
Further Coverage on BizInsight@HKUST Lunch Seminar
There were further reports (Ming Pao and iMoney) on the comments made by Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides on Brexit impact at the BizInsight@HKUST Lunch Seminar held by the School in late September.