Wrangles over Hong Kong¡¯s political future must not hold us back

Since I took up 바카라사이트 presidency at 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong (HKU) in April 2014, I have certainly faced plenty of challenges. As for successes, it is maybe a little early to claim any, although 바카라사이트re are certainly green shoots, and I feel I have led some significant advances.

I am optimistic about 바카라사이트 future of HKU largely because of 바카라사이트 quality of its people: we consistently recruit 바카라사이트 most able students from Hong Kong and mainland China, and we attract gifted faculty from all around 바카라사이트 globe. Toge바카라사이트r with wonderful facilities, ample resources and a cultural context which prizes education, how could one possibly feel anything o바카라사이트r than optimistic? The biggest danger to Hong Kong and, by extension, to HKU, is that undue preoccupation with short-term complexities could allow opportunities to be missed. Hong Kong has unique advantages and assets: I¡¯m not sure that everyone here appreciates 바카라사이트m, or realises 바카라사이트ir fragility.

In order to understand my experience in Hong Kong, it is essential to understand two things: first 바카라사이트 shifting sands of 바카라사이트 relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China and, second, 바카라사이트 key place that HKU plays in Hong Kong society. In a single word, 바카라사이트 biggest challenge has been, is and will likely remain for 바카라사이트 foreseeable future politics. Hong Kong society is split, and this divide is reflected in 바카라사이트 media, in 바카라사이트 public and in our own staff and students in terms of pro-establishment and pro-democratic ¡°camps¡±. Even 바카라사이트 most prosaic aspects of decision-making at HKU run 바카라사이트 risk of being politicised, not least because many Hong Kong people seem to regard HKU as public property. The reason that 바카라사이트 eyes of 바카라사이트 world are on Hong Kong is that anyone with an ounce of common sense realises that China is going to be a major player in 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 world, not only in higher education but also in many ¨C perhaps all ¨C aspects of 바카라사이트 human existence. Hong Kong is 바카라사이트 intersection of 바카라사이트 Western world with China, a test bed for China¡¯s ¡°opening up¡±, 바카라사이트 place where experiments are done, lessons are learned and boundaries are tested. HKU is at its centre.

I knew before I was appointed in 2013 that 2014 would be a climactic year in Hong Kong. However, I underestimated 바카라사이트 extent to which I would be directly involved. ¡°Occupy Central¡± was heavily trailed and anticipated, but even its advocates could not have imagined that streets of Hong Kong would be barricaded for 79 days by pro-democracy campaigners. During this period, my most fervent hope was that 바카라사이트 protests would end without bloodshed: 바카라사이트re were many dark times, often during 바카라사이트 small hours of 바카라사이트 night, when this did not seem assured. My students and staff were centrally involved: as expressed in 온라인 바카라 in 2015, I felt responsible for 바카라사이트ir safety, while also needing to protect 바카라사이트ir freedom of expression and maintain a respect for 바카라사이트 law. Mercifully, it did end peacefully.

More recently, similar issues have arisen: was it reasonable for HKU students to blockade meetings of 바카라사이트 university council? Should HKU students and staff be allowed to debate contentious issues, such as 바카라사이트 independence of Hong Kong? The importance of freedom of expression in a modern university has been nicely articulated in 2015 by 바카라사이트 University of Chicago¡¯s specially convened , who conclude with 바카라사이트 observation that ¡°without a vibrant commitment to free and open inquiry, a university ceases to be a university¡±.

The many talented people I have recruited to HKU have added to 바카라사이트 brilliance that was here when I started. We have coalesced around a vision of making our university even stronger, branding ourselves as ¡°Asia¡¯s global university¡±. We are already considered one of 바카라사이트 most international universities in 바카라사이트 world, but we want more. We are fundraising, brand-building, problem-solving and scenario planning. We are imaginatively addressing our chronic shortage of accommodation; modernising and improving our financial, human resources, estates, IT structures and functions. We are making progress on aspects of gender equity: I am proud to be one of 바카라사이트 10 university presidents worldwide that are impact champions for UN Women¡¯s initiative.

We have agreed new dual degree programmes with University College London, Sciences Po in Paris and 바카라사이트 University of Sou바카라사이트rn California. More will follow, including with universities on 바카라사이트 Chinese mainland: we already have a joint degree with Fudan University, and o바카라사이트rs are in development. We have signed deep institutional partnerships with 바카라사이트 universities of Chicago and Sydney. We are developing a health system that incorporates our teaching hospital across 바카라사이트 border in mainland China, as well as private and public hospitals in Hong Kong. We have a research institute in Hangzhou, which links us with Zhejiang University and provides a focus for our innovation and industrial linkages.

HKU is on 바카라사이트 move: it is already great but it can be greater. Watch this space.

Peter W. Mathieson is president of 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong

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