HKUST Holds Fourth Inauguration Ceremony of Named Professorships for Outstanding Faculty Members

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) held the fourth inauguration ceremony of named professorships today to honor 15 outstanding faculty members and their donors.

Officiating at the ceremony, HKUST Council Chairman Mr Andrew Liao Cheung-sing said, “My heartfelt gratitude goes to our donors for their generous giving that made possible the establishment of the named professorships today.  Our donors’ unfailing support has allowed the University to recruit as well as retain, the best talents in education and research from around the globe, empowering us to endeavor in the advancement of knowledge and innovation to meet challenges of the society ahead.”

HKUST President Prof Tony F Chan congratulated the appointed faculty members and thanked the donors’ generosity. “I am delighted to see our vision of the scheme of named professorships is beginning to bear fruit. The number of named professorships has risen from under 10 in 2009 to almost 40 today. This is a testimony to the concerted effort of many – our donors, who recognize the importance of these professorships for advancing the mission of the University; and our distinguished Chair holders, for their achievements which help lay the foundation for HKUST to become a world-class research university,” he said.

The expertise of the 15 named professors spans across a diverse spectrum ranging from observational astrophysics and cosmology to geo-environmental engineering, consumer information processing as well as historical cartography.

The professorships were made possible by generous donations rendered to HKUST from long-standing contributors to higher education. They are (in alphabetical order): Chinese Estates Holdings Limited, CLP Holdings Limited, Dr Geoffrey Yeh and Synergis Management Services Ltd, Dr Helmut Sohmen and Mrs Anna Pao Sohmen, Dr Tai-chin Lo, Elman Family Foundation, Jebsen Group, Lam Woo Foundation, Li & Fung, Mrs Padma H Harilela, Stephen Kam Chuen Cheong Education Fund, The S H Ho Foundation Limited, and TT & WF Chao Foundation.

Among the officiating guests at the Inauguration Ceremony were HKUST Council Chairman Mr Liao, President Prof Chan and other senior management.  Donors, corporate sponsors and their representatives were also present at the ceremony to celebrate the inauguration.

The appointed professors are: Lam Woo Foundation Professor Prof Andrew Cohen, HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study IAS Helmut and Anna Pao Sohmen Professor-at-Large Prof Bright Sheng, HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study IAS TT & WF Chao Foundation Professor Prof George Smoot, HKUST Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study David von Hansemann Professor of Science Prof Qian Peiyuan, Division of Life Science Padma Harilela Associate Professor of Science Prof Huang Xuhui, Department of Chemistry Dr Tai-chin Lo Associate Professor of Science Prof Vic Law, Department of Physics S H Ho Assistant Professor of Life Science Prof Tom Cheung, Division of Life Science Chinese Estates Professor of Engineering Prof Mohamed Ghidaoui, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Elman Family Professor of Engineering and Public Policy Prof Joseph Lee Hun-wei, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering CLP Holdings Professor of Sustainability Prof Charles Ng, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Cheong Ying Chan Professor of Engineering and Environment Prof Zhao Tianshou, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Fung Term Professor of Accounting Prof Hung Mingyi, Department of Accounting Synergis-Geoffery YEH Professor of Business Prof Jaideep Sengupta, Department of Marketing Michael Jebsen Professor of Business Prof James Thong, Department of Information Systems, Business Statistics and Operations Management Elman Family Visiting Professor of Jewish and Israeli Studies Prof Rehav Rubin, Division of Social Science About The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) (www.ust.hk) is a world-class research university that focuses on science, technology and business as well as humanities and social science.  HKUST offers an international campus, and a holistic and interdisciplinary pedagogy to nurture well-rounded graduates with global vision, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking. HKUST attained the highest proportion of internationally excellent research work in the Research Assessment Exercise 2014 of Hong Kong’s University Grants Committee, and is the world’s second in the latest QS’ Top 50 under 50 ranking.  Its graduates were ranked 13th worldwide and top in Greater China in Global Employability University Survey 2016. For media enquiries, please contact: