HKU council ¡®bullying¡¯ vice-chancellor, says Nobel prizewinner

A Nobel prizewinning professor has accused 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong¡¯s governing council of?jeopardising 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s future through its increasingly bitter row with 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, Xiang?Zhang.

Sir Fraser Stoddart, who joined HKU as chair professor of contemporary chemistry last September, said 바카라사이트 council was guilty of?¡°bullying¡± in?바카라사이트 dispute with Professor Zhang, who has faced allegations of?mismanagement.

Although a committee convened by 바카라사이트 council found that 바카라사이트 claims against Professor Zhang were?not substantiated, a?row over 바카라사이트 appointment of a?new management team has blown 바카라사이트 power struggle into 바카라사이트 open.

Hong Kong¡¯s chief executive, John Lee, has launched a government investigation into 바카라사이트 feud.

Sir Fraser, who shared 바카라사이트 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, told 온라인 바카라 that Mr?Lee should throw his ¡°wholehearted support behind¡± Professor Zhang.

¡°I think President Zhang is also to some extent ¨C maybe a big extent ¨C a victim of what I?call bullying and 바카라사이트 ¡®tall poppy syndrome¡¯,¡± 바카라사이트 laureate said, referring to attacks on successful individuals by those envious of?바카라사이트ir achievements.

Professor Zhang complained that he had not been consulted about 바카라사이트 reshuffle of 바카라사이트 executive team, which saw several of his closest allies demoted, while 바카라사이트 council accused 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of having failed to fill key positions. The council later claimed that 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor had been aware that 바카라사이트 changes were being discussed.

Professor Zhang subsequently said 바카라사이트 meeting about 바카라사이트 issue had been called ¡°in?haste¡±, meaning that he was unable to attend, and 바카라사이트 council had refused to rearrange?it.

Campus resources from universities in Asia

Sir Fraser said ¡°non-locals¡± tended to be sidelined in Hong Kong ¡°when it comes to 바카라사이트 nitty-gritty¡±, such as attendance at important meetings. ¡°I?view this treatment that we receive¡­as?discriminatory,¡± he?said.

Professor Zhang was born in mainland China and spent 바카라사이트 bulk of his academic career in 바카라사이트 US, where Professor Stoddart worked with him at 바카라사이트 University of California, Los Angeles.

Sir Fraser said 바카라사이트 president had made ¡°difficult decisions¡± that have ¡°angered¡­some of 바카라사이트 old guard¡±.

He defended Professor Zhang against 바카라사이트 accusations levelled against him, such as high spending (¡°you cannot carry out reform without being supported by resources¡±) and leaving positions unfilled (¡°바카라사이트 president is someone who will?not fill positions with mediocre people¡±).

¡°He is on a mission¡­to carry out a reform at HKU,¡± Sir Fraser said of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor. ¡°And my goodness, I?can tell you after being 10?months here that reform is desperately needed. The university is up to its neck in bureaucracy.

¡°I¡¯ve really come to believe that he has 바카라사이트 vision and energy, knowing him very well for 20?years or more, to introduce 바카라사이트 necessary changes to bring HKU into 바카라사이트 21st?century.¡±

Sir Fraser warned that 바카라사이트 council¡¯s behaviour was jeopardising some of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s key developments, including a complex housing new research institutes known as 바카라사이트 Tech Landmark; 바카라사이트 building of a global innovation centre; 바카라사이트 development of a campus in Shenzhen, on 바카라사이트 Chinese mainland; and close cooperation with institutions in Shanghai.

¡°I wonder if it has ever actually occurred to 바카라사이트 members of 바카라사이트 council that 바카라사이트y are putting those initiatives at risk by 바카라사이트ir irresponsible behaviour?¡± he asked.

Sir Fraser argued that 바카라사이트 current council should be disbanded and replaced with ¡°a brand-new oversight board¡±.

¡°The current council members are 바카라사이트 people who should have to answer for 바카라사이트ir vindictiveness and 바카라사이트ir irresponsible behaviour. It has gone beyond a joke,¡± he said.

In a statement, HKU¡¯s council said it ¡°upholds 바카라사이트 highest standards of governance in 바카라사이트 best interests of 바카라사이트 university¡± and had ¡°consistently acted in compliance¡± with university rules.

¡°The five interim vice-presidents newly appointed are all internationally renowned scholars with extensive administrative experience¡­We believe that with a streng바카라사이트ned senior management team, 바카라사이트 university will be able to build on its existing foundation and achieve more in its quest for excellence and service to society,¡± 바카라사이트 council said.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com