The Oxford-HKUST Leadership and Public Policy Series, jointly established by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and University of Oxford (Oxford), was officially launched today. The leading regional initiative seeks to provide executive education for public sector officials and senior executives in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Asia.
Program instructors will come from HKUST, Oxford and other academic institutions worldwide, and will also include leaders and practitioners from fields that impact on public sectors.
Officiating at the Launch Forum were: the Honorable C Y Leung, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Prof Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford; Dr Marvin K T Cheung, Chairman of the HKUST Council; and Prof Tony F Chan, President of HKUST.
The theme of the Forum centered on “Visions of the City”, with participants discussing the challenges and aspirations for urban development from different perspectives. Forum speakers addressed a range of social, political and economic issues, including urban planning, transport, IT development, poverty, and integration with Mainland China, among others.
Dr Vincent H S Lo, Chairman of Shui On Group, gave an analysis of Hong Kong politics and his view of “what has gone wrong”; Dr Mah Bow Tan, Member of Parliament and Former Minister of National Development, Singapore, shared Singapore’s development story; Dr Victor Fung, Group Chairman of Fung Group, discussed Hong Kong’s role as a service hub and business integrator for China and beyond; and Mr Jay Herbert Walder, Chief Executive Officer of the MTR Corporation, talked about the challenges of urbanization and meeting the needs of 21st century cities. Other speakers and panelists included: Dr John Chan Cho-chak, Chairman of the Court of HKUST; Prof Nelson Chow Wing-sun, Chair Professor in Social Work and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong; and Prof Lionel M Ni, Chair Professor and Dean of HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School.
“Oxford and Hong Kong share a long history with many academic collaborations and important scholarship programs for Hong Kong students,” said Prof Andrew Hamilton, Vice-Chancellor of University of Oxford. “Today we are launching a program with our Hong Kong partners to provide training for leaders in the public sector. The program will have a global perspective, drawing on the best practices from the East and the West.”
President Tony F Chan said: “Oxford has a long history of providing leadership training for public sector officials and senior executives around the world. HKUST is one of the most international universities in China and we excel in science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science. Oxford and HKUST have the same vision for executive education, which is now needed more than ever in Hong Kong and Mainland China. This collaboration will help senior executives to gain a more international perspective and broader vision, enhancing their governance and leadership.”
Dr Vincent H S Lo, Chairman of the Advisory Board of LAPP Executive Education and Chairman of Shui On Group, said: “Hong Kong faces increasing challenges in policy-making with major impact on its future. Oxford-HKUST Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education Program will equip participants with knowledge from, and exposure to, global thought leaders on ways of dealing with these challenges.”
Director of LAPP Executive Education Prof Angelina Yee said: “The Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education Program brings together leaders and academics from different fields and creates an important platform for decision-makers. We hope that the program will empower senior executives and enable them to make a significant impact on policy-making, stimulate discussion on the development of Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Asia, and nurture a new generation of leaders over the longer term.”
Combining the strengths of HKUST and Oxford, the new program in leadership training addresses some of the challenges in governing fast-changing, rapid-growth economies in Asia. It will focus on the global dimensions of public policy relating to the global economy, governance, sustainable development, urban planning, and science and technology policy-making, establishing a partnership between academics, government and the community and creating a platform for discussion among different sectors. The flexible mode of delivery will include themed series, open-enrollment programs, public forums and seminars. Participants will learn about the latest research and thinking on public issues, gain deeper understanding of the challenges facing Hong Kong and the region, and widen their international perspective. The courses will enhance participants’ flexibility and capabilities in devising more effective strategies to deal with challenges in the decision-making process, and, in the long run, nurture a more open-minded behavior and culture in the public domain.
The Leadership and Public Policy Executive Education Program “Envisioning the Future City” will take place from 13-17 January. For details, visit http://www.lapp.ust.hk/.
For media enquiries, please feel free to contact :
Ella Au Yeung
Tel: 2358 6306
Email: ellaauyeung@ust.hk
