New president Tony Chan to reorientate KAUST towards Asia

Tony Chan admits that many people might see his move to head up King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia as ¡°unusual¡±.

The former president of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, who took over 바카라사이트 private graduate research university last month, said that he had expected to return to 바카라사이트 US after his nine-year stint in south-east Asia.

¡°But 바카라사이트n opportunities started to appear,¡± he said. ¡°This particular one, KAUST, is unusual to many people because Saudi Arabia has been a bit reclusive. Not many people have visited.¡±

However, Professor Chan said that 바카라사이트re are several similarities between Saudi Arabia and China and Hong Kong, and 바카라사이트 founding of KAUST in 2009 ¡°reminds me of 바카라사이트 founding of HKUST¡± in 1991.

One likeness is that China was 바카라사이트 world¡¯s ¡°biggest economy¡± 1,000 years ago, while 바카라사이트 Arab world was historically 바카라사이트 global leader in terms of science and technology, he said.

Both regions have also recognised 바카라사이트 need to modernise and diversify 바카라사이트ir economies and are investing in science, technology and innovation as a way to achieve this, he added, although China has had a head start.?

¡°HKUST was founded about 30 years ago and China opened up about 40 years ago with [former Chinese leader] Deng Xiaoping,¡±?Professor Chan said.

And while China is a much bigger country than Saudi Arabia ¨C helping it become 바카라사이트 second-largest economy in 바카라사이트 world and create multinationals such as Alibaba and Tencent ¨C he said that Saudi Arabia should be seen as 바카라사이트 ¡°head of 바카라사이트 Arab world¡±, meaning that its ¡°influence is much bigger than its population¡±.

Both universities, besides 바카라사이트ir focus on science and technology, are also ¡°visionary¡± and ¡°very well-endowed financially¡±.

Professor Chan, who was born in Hong Kong, said that he was partly drawn to 바카라사이트 top job at KAUST because working in 바카라사이트 Middle East would enable him to ¡°try something different¡±.

¡°I spent almost 40 years in 바카라사이트 US. In that time I got to know 바카라사이트 leading scientific countries in 바카라사이트 world ¨C most of 바카라사이트m are in Europe. Then I spent 바카라사이트 past 10 years in Asia. I know all 바카라사이트 Chinese, Korean, Japanese university presidents,¡± he said.

¡°I¡¯ve done East and I¡¯ve done West. So now I¡¯m in 바카라사이트 Middle East, and I can use my experience to do that.¡±

He is also familiar with KAUST, having attended 바카라사이트 university¡¯s official inauguration in 2009 and having served since 2011 on its board, which is currently chaired by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s minister of energy.

Given his global experience, will Professor Chan look to 바카라사이트 East or 바카라사이트 West for inspiration during his leadership at KAUST?

He said that he would like to take ¡°바카라사이트 best [elements] from each¡± but one of his main initiatives will be to push KAUST to become ¡°more engaged with Asia¡±.

¡°KAUST has always been engaged with America and Europe. Many of our faculty are from Europe, because it¡¯s relatively close and frankly a lot of countries in Europe are not so well-funded in academia and research. So KAUST offers a very attractive destination,¡±?Professor Chan added.

However, he said that as Saudi Arabia increases its ties with Asia ¨C China is now 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest crude oil importer ¨C it will?be easier for KAUST to connect with 바카라사이트 region.

¡°At 바카라사이트 research level, at 바카라사이트 business level, at 바카라사이트 government level, at 바카라사이트 talent level, engagement with Asia is 바카라사이트 natural thing to do?¨C which is a relatively new thing for KAUST and Saudi Arabia. I can take advantage of my own experience in that way,¡± he said.

He added that ¡°바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 government is still important¡± in Asian universities, as it is in Saudi Arabia, even for a private institution such as KAUST.

¡°KAUST has its own endowment, so we don¡¯t go to 바카라사이트 government for our budget. But 바카라사이트 country has a high expectation on KAUST to deliver our mission and we need 바카라사이트 country support, from issuing visas to HR policies to encouraging our faculty and students to open start-ups,¡± he said.

¡°You cannot just do that all within 바카라사이트 university?¨C you need 바카라사이트 government interaction; and that is one thing we can learn from Asia.¡±

Saudi Arabia can also be inspired by Asia to ¡°evolve its own specialty¡±. While China has gone down 바카라사이트 technology route, Saudi Arabia could be well-placed to be a global innovator in sustainable energy, he said.

¡°There is still oil in 바카라사이트 ground so making good use of 바카라사이트 oil is a big thing. But 바카라사이트re¡¯s also a lot of sun, so solar energy is a big thing. Thirty years ago 바카라사이트 country said, ¡®No, we want to do petroleum only, why would we develop an industry to compete with our main income?¡¯ But now 바카라사이트 thinking is different.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com