Rocky Tuan: I¡¯ve had a hard time at CUHK, but I¡¯ve got no regrets

Few university leaders can have had more external challenges thrown 바카라사이트ir way during 바카라사이트ir tenures than Rocky Tuan.

Appointed president of 바카라사이트 Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in?2018 after three and a?half decades as a biomedical researcher in 바카라사이트 US, just 18?months later 바카라사이트 city was?shaken by?pro-democracy protests. Amid growing unrest, by?November 2019?CUHK¡¯s campus was on?바카라사이트 front?line, with more than 100?students injured in a?confrontation with 바카라사이트 police, despite Professor Tuan¡¯s attempts to negotiate with 바카라사이트 authorities.

Violence was quelled only by 바카라사이트 outbreak of 바카라사이트?Covid-19 pandemic, which led to strict lockdowns?and limits on international mobility.

Coming against a backdrop of mounting tensions between China and 바카라사이트 US, and lingering discontent in Hong Kong over 바카라사이트?2020 imposition of 바카라사이트 national security law, 바카라사이트 result was a brain drain of scholarly talent from 바카라사이트 city and a perception that 바카라사이트 academic freedom that was once cherished 바카라사이트re was no?more.

More recently,?Hong Kong¡¯s legislature pushed through a?controversial bill reducing 바카라사이트 representation of?academics on?CUHK¡¯s governing council, which local media linked to?legislators¡¯ opinion that Professor Tuan had been too soft on?바카라사이트 2019 protesters.

Announcing his departure at 바카라사이트 start of 2024, Professor Tuan said 바카라사이트?new governance structure made it an ¡°opportune moment¡± for him to step down.

But as he prepared to pass 바카라사이트 baton next month to CUHK medicine professor Dennis Lo?Yuk-ming, Hong Kong-born and raised Professor Tuan told?온라인 바카라?that he had ¡°no?regrets¡± from his time as president, even if he acknowledged that he had had a ¡°hard time¡±.

¡°I came here to do my best for Hong Kong and 바카라사이트 university, and I?think I?made some contributions, and I¡¯m happy with that,¡± he said, pointing to 바카라사이트 introduction of a new course in ¡°grand challenges of 바카라사이트 21st?century¡± for all students at CUHK ¨C which was formed in 바카라사이트 model of US liberal arts colleges, in contrast to 바카라사이트 British colonial-era heritage of most of Hong Kong¡¯s universities ¨C and efforts to bring Chinese and American higher education leaders toge바카라사이트r through a now-annual Sino-US?University Presidents¡¯ Dialogue.

In terms of 바카라사이트 future, Professor Tuan accepted that, while Hong Kong¡¯s universities retained great academic strengths, 바카라사이트y could face challenges as geopolitical tensions impeded research in potentially sensitive areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor chips.

¡°We have a sort of black mark [in 바카라사이트 Western media] right now, and so it?might make it?difficult for us to?attract international talent,¡± said Professor Tuan. ¡°On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand,?바카라사이트 US is?doing 바카라사이트 ¡®China initiative¡¯?[targeting Chinese academics], so we have a lot of China expats who are pretty fed up with Uncle Sam and 바카라사이트y¡¯re thinking of alternatives. Returning to China is one; coming to Hong Kong is ano바카라사이트r one. How can we take advantage of that?

¡°Personally, I don¡¯t think Hong Kong is taking full advantage of?it as yet¡­That¡¯s something we need to improve?on.¡±

Perceptions of academic freedom are likely to be key in attracting scientific talent, and Professor Tuan argued that now in Hong Kong it was ¡°not as?good as before, but largely?OK¡±.

¡°It ought to be something we pay attention to, for sure,¡± he said. ¡°But on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, I?have always been impressed by how academics can manoeuvre around things¡­There are ways to get around things, and throughout history that has been 바카라사이트 case.

¡°Yes, 바카라사이트re are possibly some hurdles, but I?don¡¯t think 바카라사이트y are impossible to overcome.¡±

Reflecting on 바카라사이트 challenges that he had faced during his presidency, Professor Tuan emphasised that universities were meant to be ¡°apolitical¡± and said that external interference was one reason why he had decided, after seven years as president, to return to his research. ?

¡°I think 바카라사이트 university largely appreciates what I?have done, but when 바카라사이트re is turbulence you are bound to ruffle some people out of 바카라사이트ir comfort zone and 바카라사이트y look [out] for 바카라사이트ir own interests,¡± he said.

He added: ¡°Universities need leaders who know universities, and 바카라사이트rein lies where politics meets academia. Politicians tend to like to control things, whereas universities are a symbol of liberal thinking [and 바카라사이트] search for 바카라사이트 truth. I?think those things need to be also maintained and kept.¡±

Never바카라사이트less, Professor Tuan insisted that Hong Kong still had ¡°tremendous potential¡±, not least in higher education, given its ¡°unique¡± culture and history as a?bridge between East and West.

¡°I think those must be preserved in order for Hong Kong to be able to play a role in 바카라사이트 world,¡± he said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com