HIGHLIGHTS
HKUST Signs MoU with Great Lakes (23 Feb)
Hans India, an English newspaper published in India, reported on an MoU signed between the HKUST Business School and Great Lakes Institute of Management in India. The purpose of the MoU is to make possible and to institute academic exchange between the HKUST Business School and Great Lakes, a leading B-School in India. Through this co-operative program, both the institutes will be able to exchange faculty, graduate management students and research scholars. The MoU was signed by Dean of HKUST Business School Professor Jitendra Singh and Dr Bala V Balachandran, Founder, Dean and Chairman, Great Lakes Institute of Management.
Tanoto Center: Bridging the Academic and Practitioner Gap (Feb)
Tharawat, a family business magazine published in Dubai, carried an in-depth interview with Professor Roger King, Founder and Director of the Tanoto Centre for Asian Family Business and Entrepreneurship Studies. Professor King talked about in detail the objectives in establishing the Centre, which include providing education on family business through different courses and programs, conducting research on ethnic Chinese family businesses, and organizing activities that can bridge the gap between academics and practitioners. He also explained how the Center contributes new knowledge related to Chinese family businesses and entrepreneurs as well as the current state of Chinese family businesses and the challenges of succession. Link
Study Reveals the Primary Cause of Obesity (29 Feb)
SCMP carried a story of almost full-page featuring a consumer research by Professor Anirban Mukhopadhyay. The studies, collaborated with consumer researchers from other university, look into the primary cause of obesity: “lack of exercise” or “poor diet”. The result concludes that many people mistakenly believe “poor diet” is not the cause, with which food companies know this misconception and capitalize on it linking their food products to exercise. The research examines the whole obesity crisis as a case of market failure and analyzes possible remedial actions. Professor Mukhopadhyay said strong government actions are necessary for the worldwide obesity epidemic, and there also needs to be much greater public awareness of the scale and scope of the problem. Link
Meanwhile a columnist in Sing Tao reported on the research highlighting how people’s lay theories can influence their eating behaviors and the alarming cost of obesity on a society.
OTHERS
“Double Standard” of Chris Patten (26 Feb)
Hong Kong Economic Times carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development. He commented on an article “The Closing of the Academic Mind” written by the last British colonial governor in Hong Kong Chris Patten. Professor Lui argued that Patten, who is also the Chancellor of the Oxford University, applies a double standard in commenting Oxford students’ protests (demanding the removal of Rhodes statue due to Cecil Rhodes’ racism) and the “misbehavior” of some Hong Kong’s students in recent protests. Link
Courses Offered by Executive Education Office (24 Feb)
Hong Kong Economic Times carried a sponsored supplement featuring executive education courses offered by the HKUST Business School. The supplement introduced the company programs and open-enrolment programs that aim to help executives sharpen their skills sets. Courses that are open for enrolment in coming months include “Managerial Decision Making and Leadership”, “Effective Negotiations”, “Corporate Innovation and Growth”, among others. Professor Xu Yan, Associate Dean (HKUST EMBA and Executive Education), said the courses offered by its Executive Education Office combines the research endeavor of the School and real-life practices, highlighting its firm commitment to social responsibility.
Expectation on Responsible Investment (23 Feb)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Adjunct Associate Professor Christine Chow, Department of Finance. She discussed the principle of Responsible Ownership and “Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)” by sharing some of her real-life discussions with top management and owners of listed companies and stated-owned enterprises across various industries as well as institutional investors. Professor Chow said the attitudes and expectations of these key stakeholders on the subject of responsible investment and ESG are significant and good reference for investors, which reveal the future directions and trends of some listed companies. Link
Sharing with Students (21 Feb)
The Sun carried a story recapping an interactive dialogue between several UG students and Assistant Professor of Business Education Siu Kam Wing, Department of Economics. After sharing his personal investment experience, Professor Siu asked the students, instead of making speculative investment at their early age, should work hard on their studies and strengthen their analytical and interpersonal skills to better equip themselves for future. Link
Protestors Who Put on Masks (19 Feb)
Sky Post carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development. Professor Lui discussed the radical and violent protestors in Mong Kok on 8 February criticizing the mobs who put on masks to set fires and attacked police officers. It is a way to shirk their legal responsibility, Professor Lui said. Link
China Must Devalue Renminbi (17 Feb)
SCMP published an article by Professor of Business Practice Milind Rao, Department of Economics. He said China must devalue the renminbi and pointed out that three announcements have shaken the world’s capital markets: the Bank of Japan’s surprise announcement of negative interest rates, the US Federal Reserve’s signal that it plans to tighten monetary policy this year, and China’s announcement of a record low GDP growth rate. The obvious consequence is that China must devalue the renminbi immediately. Failure to do so will not only hurt Beijing’s reputation for economic management but will delay the inevitable final reckoning and exacerbate current problems. Link
How Consumers Respond to New Technology (17 Feb)
SCMP Education Post carried a research summary by Professor James Thong, Head and Chair Professor of the Department of ISOM. His research looks into factors that affect consumers’ acceptance and the use of new technology by studying over 1,500 consumers and the use of mobile IT applications. The study shows how it can predict differences between men and women, old and young, and inexperienced and experienced users when it comes to adopting new technology. Link
Imminent Impact on Global Market (16 Feb)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Adjunct Professor Jerome Yen, Department of Finance. Professor Yen explained the underlying risks on the investment market globally.
He expected that there would be a significant adjustment in the first half of 2016 and the Dow Jones Index would drop below 14000 within the first half. He said the US is facing a dilemma on making any move on the interest rate, which either goes up or down is set to trigger volatility. Link
Student Startup: Plain Exchange (14 Feb)
TVB Finance Magazine (財經透視) zoomed in on the Fintech development in Hong Kong and introduced some innovative Fintech startups by young entrepreneurs. An HKUST UG student Johannes Jaeger who co-founded a company that has launched an online currency exchange application called Plain Exchange spoke about the benefits and the use of the application as well as its protection measures. Link (13:50)
Benefits of Television Commercials (14 Feb)
Global Network for Advancement Management (GNAM) carried a research summary by Assistant Professor Wenbo Wang, Department of Marketing. His study explains why under some conditions, television commercials can enhance or improve consumers’ television watching welfare. Link
Hongkongers Should Say No to Violence (12 Feb)
Sky Post carried a commentary by Professor Francis Lui, Director of the Center for Economic Development, who condemned the demonstrators’ rampant violence against the police on 8 February. Professor Lui said the protestors should be penalized, and added that the incident, generally speaking, is an “extension” of the Occupy Central campaign, which is unacceptable by the majority of the public. Link
The Special Case of Venture Boards (3 Feb)
SCMP Education Post published a research summary by Assistant Professor Sam Garg, Department of Management. His research looks at the special features of venture boards and their likely impact on firm performance. He defines ventures as privately-owned, professionally-funded firms, which have become important for economic growth and innovation. Link
Trans-Pacific Partnership and China (2 Feb)
Hong Kong Economic Journal carried a commentary (解牛集) by Professor Edwin Lai, Department of Economics, on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Professor Lai introduced the TPP trade agreement reached between 12 countries last year, which he said will help promote economic growth in the region. He also explained the potential benefits of TPP to China. As the agreement also promotes transparency, good governance, environmental protection, among others, it should help China reform. Link
Measures to Stabilize the Property Market (1 Feb)
Oriental Daily News carried an article by Assistant Professor of Business Education Siu Kam Wing, Department of Economics. Professor Siu discussed if it is the right time for the government to withdraw its “spicy” measures to cool down the property market amid the tumbling property price. He said the government will be in a dilemma to make any decision as it is very controversial to determine a “price” that is affordable and acceptable by the public. Link
China Trumpets Its Service Economy (29 Jan)
Bloomberg looked into the mainland service economy, saying that it has a long way to go before it resembles the US economy, which derives almost 80 percent of GDP from services. In mainland service economy, the fastest growth has been in low-end jobs in retail, restaurants, hotels, and real estate. However, Finance’s share has fallen, according to Professor Albert Park, Department of Economics. The higher-skilled sectors—telecoms, information technology, computers, finance, and business services—are still not a large share of the total service industry, while some are growing, but aren’t growing very quickly, he said. Link