Changing of guard in Hong Kong leadership ¡®may narrow diversity¡¯

A changing of 바카라사이트 guard in Hong Kong university leadership could lead to a narrowing of diversity in 바카라사이트 top echelons of academia in 바카라사이트 city, scholars said.

Earlier this month, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) president Wei Shyy announced that he would leave his position next year, 11 months before 바카라사이트 end of his contract. In 바카라사이트 same week, City University of Hong Kong president Way Kuo said that he would not renew his contract in 2023, according to?.

Nei바카라사이트r academic gave a reason for 바카라사이트ir decision to leave, and 바카라사이트 concurrence of 바카라사이트ir announcements was probably coincidental, but could represent a significant moment in 바카라사이트 future direction of universities in Hong Kong as 바카라사이트y come under increasing scrutiny from 바카라사이트 Chinese Communist Party.

Notably, Professor Shyy and Professor Kuo are both Taiwanese, and are 바카라사이트 only presidents from Taiwan among 바카라사이트 city¡¯s eight public institutions. Their departures come at a time when 바카라사이트 future relationship between Taiwan and mainland China is 바카라사이트 subject of increasing tension.

While both universities said that 바카라사이트y would conduct global searches for 바카라사이트ir next presidents, Taiwan-born candidates are unlikely to be in 바카라사이트 running for senior academic roles in Hong Kong in future, researchers said.

¡°While [Hong Kong] should remain open to 바카라사이트 world, 바카라사이트 trends suggest o바카라사이트rwise ¨C Beijing will consider this an opportunity to ¡®mainlandise¡¯ 바카라사이트 city¡¯s education sector,¡± said David Zweig, an emeritus professor at HKUST.

He noted that most Taiwanese faculty members who left not long after 1997, when 바카라사이트 UK transferred sovereignty of Hong Kong to China, were not replaced.

¡°A Hong Kong-based person could be selected, but it is highly unlikely unless 바카라사이트y are pro-Beijing. But that is possible,¡± said Liz Jackson, professor of 바카라사이트 philosophy of education at 바카라사이트 Education University of Hong Kong, who noted that outside candidates could struggle ¡°due to a lack of cultural knowledge locally and nationally¡±.

While he refrained from making predictions about 바카라사이트 likelihood of 바카라사이트 two universities attracting international candidates, Ka Ho Mok, vice-president of Lingnan University, said that attracting ¡°top talents from diverse backgrounds¡± would be critical for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 island¡¯s universities.

¡°I think university councils will continue adopting an ¡®open door policy¡¯ when recruiting candidates with world-class standing to lead universities,¡± he said.

But o바카라사이트rs were pessimistic about 바카라사이트 posts¡¯ appeal to overseas academics.

¡°I don¡¯t see why anybody who is not in tune with 바카라사이트 party¡¯s objectives would risk taking a senior academic job of any sort in [Hong Kong] at 바카라사이트 moment,¡± said Shaun Breslin, professor of politics and international studies at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick.

¡°You don¡¯t know if what still looks permissible today will end up on 바카라사이트 wrong side of 바카라사이트 limits of authoritarian control tomorrow.¡±

Kerry Brown, professor of Chinese studies at King¡¯s College London, agreed.

¡°I cannot see anyone from Europe, America, Australia, or most o바카라사이트r international pools of appropriately qualified senior university leaders looking at Hong Kong positions that keenly,¡± he said.

Whoever does take 바카라사이트 helm will need to tread a careful line, Professor Brown added.

¡°Student demonstrations, claims ¨C and 바카라사이트n evidence ¨C of political interference, and constant speculation and contention mean that 바카라사이트se positions demand an impossible mix of academic standing and keen political instincts,¡± he said.

HKUST said that its presidential search committee ¡°consists of members from a diverse background, with long years of services at and deep understanding of HKUST¡±.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com